Archaeologists have uncovered a small temple complex near the monumental Temple C at Selinunte, Sicily.
Once a major city in Magna Graecia, the Greek-speaking regions of southern Italy, Selinunte flourished with a population of 30,000 at its peak, spanning an area of 670 acres. The city’s southern quadrants, closer to the sea, served as the religious centre, housing various temples and the Acropolis.
Temple C, located in this area, was constructed in the Doric style around the mid-6th century BC. Previous excavations have revealed hundreds of ancient seals, suggesting the temple likely functioned as an archive dedicated to Apollo.
In a recent study by the Institute of Fine Arts-NYU and the University of Milan, archaeologists excavated within the peribolos wall on the Acropolis to better understand the religious centre’s perimeter. They discovered a large, monumental entrance to the northwest of the Acropolis, along with a room containing a circular wall that held various coins and gold jewellery.
A press statement from the Archaeological Park of Selinunte revealed the discovery of a small temple complex directly behind Temple C. This rectangular structure differs from other temples and shrines in the religious centre, as it lacks the typical colonnade design.
The excavations also shed light on the ceremonies linked to the construction of Temple R. Evidence suggests that surrounding structures were deliberately demolished as part of a “purification” ritual. Additionally, archaeologists found an iron spear spire with its tip and edge removed, likely symbolically “defunctionalising” the weapon.
