Agrigento, Sicily
From Porto Empedocle, beside the modern city of Agrigento, we drove by coach through the rolling Sicilian countryside to the world famous archaeological site of Selinunte. Originally founded by the Greeks in the seventh century BC, the settlement developed into one of the most important trading centers in the whole of the Mediterranean sea basin. Under the watchful eye of the Carthaginians it was attacked and plundered in 409 BC by the renowned general Hannibal who commanded an army of 100,000 but it was not until a second assault and a series of severe earthquakes in 250 BC that the settlement was completely destroyed. The fallen temples and ruins of the private houses and public buildings were then slowly absorbed by accumulating soil and other debris, like a time capsule the site lay dormant for centuries. Sporadic excavations since the early nineteenth century have revealed only a small portion of the original settlement. After arriving we explored the ruins of this extensive site in the company of our local guides. The toppled columns of once lofty temples bore witness to the devastating force of nature and offered excellent photo compositions. A much needed snack was enjoyed before driving back to Agrigento where we were treated to a wonderful lunch of typical Sicilian food in an outside restaurant located at the bottom of a verdant chasm. The afternoon was spent walking through the series of temples and other ancient remains which make up a veritable archaeological park known as "The Valley of the Temples." Eye catching were the gnarled olive trees, some of which were over a thousand years old.
From Porto Empedocle, beside the modern city of Agrigento, we drove by coach through the rolling Sicilian countryside to the world famous archaeological site of Selinunte. Originally founded by the Greeks in the seventh century BC, the settlement developed into one of the most important trading centers in the whole of the Mediterranean sea basin. Under the watchful eye of the Carthaginians it was attacked and plundered in 409 BC by the renowned general Hannibal who commanded an army of 100,000 but it was not until a second assault and a series of severe earthquakes in 250 BC that the settlement was completely destroyed. The fallen temples and ruins of the private houses and public buildings were then slowly absorbed by accumulating soil and other debris, like a time capsule the site lay dormant for centuries. Sporadic excavations since the early nineteenth century have revealed only a small portion of the original settlement. After arriving we explored the ruins of this extensive site in the company of our local guides. The toppled columns of once lofty temples bore witness to the devastating force of nature and offered excellent photo compositions. A much needed snack was enjoyed before driving back to Agrigento where we were treated to a wonderful lunch of typical Sicilian food in an outside restaurant located at the bottom of a verdant chasm. The afternoon was spent walking through the series of temples and other ancient remains which make up a veritable archaeological park known as "The Valley of the Temples." Eye catching were the gnarled olive trees, some of which were over a thousand years old.
