From being one of the most progressive and eminent cities in Magna Graecia, in 409 BCE Selinunte was transformed, almost overnight, into a large expanse of rubble. The reason for this was an attack from the old enemy, the Carthaginians, who, for many years, had seen this upstart town as a threat to their influence in Sicily. Taking advantage of some trouble between the Greeks of Selinunte and the Elymians of Segesta, the Carthaginians sent some 100,000 men to lay siege to the town, which was only able to hold out for nine days. The subsequent sacking involved the massacre of some 16,000 of the town’s inhabitants while most of the remaining citizens were taken into slavery.
Since then most of the history has been lost and even creative archaeologists have refrained from giving the ruins names: they are just known by letter. All that is worth saying is that some of the buildings go back nearly 3 centuries.
Tony Hammond Ah well the Carthaginians got their just desserts when the Romans destroyed Carthage and sowed their land with salt!
Rose Siva Wow!