Page 112 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

110  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Selinunte massive columns placed
here and there around the
You will need at least two hours to visit the archaeological ancient sacred precinct is
site of Selinunte. The excavated area is divided into four quite impressive.
zones, starting off from the east: the eastern hill with its Temple D is also reduced
group of temples; the Acropolis; the ancient city; and the to a state of fragmentary
ruins. The Acropolis area
Sanctuary of Malophoros. Besides Selinunte’s great cultural was divided by two main
interest, the surrounding landscape is very beautiful, and perpen dicular streets, which
there are lovely views of the sea. can be reached by means of
stone steps.
T The Eastern Hill
The sacred precinct has remains
of three temples set
parallel to one another
at the entrance to the
archaeological
zone. In ancient
times it was
surrounded by
an enclosure.
The metopes of Temple C, now in Palermo’s archeological museum (see p60) The partially
reconstructed
T Acropolis longer ones. Further on you Temple E was built in
This lies on a bluff right over come to the small Temple B, the pure Doric style.
the sea, between the Modione which was thought to have An inscription on
river to the west and the been brightly coloured. a votive stele found
Gorgo Cottone river to Temple C is the most in 1865 suggests it
the east. Their mouths ancient on the Acropolis. was dedicated to
once formed the city It may have been Hera (Juno). Its
harbour, now silted dedicated to Apollo 68 columns still
up. The Acropolis and had six columns support part of
was surrounded by on the short sides and the trabeation.
colossal stone walls 17 on the long ones. An eight­step
3 m (10 ft) high, The pediment stairway leads The bronze
with two gates, the was decorated to Temple F, ephebus, Selinunte
larger one on the with superb possibly dedi­
northern side. This metopes, cated to either Athena or
area contained the Hellenistic vases, three of which Dionysus, the smallest and
public buildings and Museo Archeologico, are now in the most badly damaged of the
temples, all facing Palermo (see p60) Museo Archeologico three. It was built in the
east. From the in Palermo (see p60). archaic style, surrounded by
southern end, the first places In 1925–6, 14 columns 36 columns which were more
are the sparse ruins of Temples on the northern side and on than 9 m (29 ft) high. The
O and A, close together and part of the architrave were vestibule had a second row of
much alike. There were origi­ reconstructed. The sight of columns, and the lower part
nally six columns along the these among the other of the peristyle was enclosed
short sides and 14 on the blocks of by a wall.

Temple E, one of the best examples of Doric architecture in Sicily
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp202–3 and pp211–13

110-111_EW_Sicily.indd 110 11/3/16 2:09 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm