Segesta

Due to its rural setting, Segesta in springtime is a magical place.  Built before 430 BC, the Doric temple is the focal point of Segesta. The temple is just over sixty meters long and twenty-six meters wide, built upon four steps, with a total of thirty-six Doric columns.  High upon a neighboring hill are the ruins of the city itself.  A small amphitheater is the most impressive, with a spectacular view over the Gulf of Castellammare.  Productions are still staged there in the summer.  Remains of a church and public forum can be found, as well as street paving from Greek and Roman times.  Built on top of these more ancient ruins are the remains of medieval buildings.

amphitheater with a view of a modern autoduct.    

Situated strategically on the slopes of Mt. Barbaro, close enough to the coast to support a trading port.  Segesta established itself as the most important regional town of the Elymi people.  Little is known of the Elymi, founders of the place initially called "Egesta."  Originally from Asia Minor they arrived in western Sicily around 1200 BC.  From the 7th century BCE Segesta, to use its more familiar Latin name, became an established Greek polis or city-state and the regional political capital.  Trade flourished, they assimilated architecture from Greece, there was an independent army and a mint.  A dog seen on 4th century BCE coins may refer to the myth where a dog personifies of the river god Crimisus who fell in love with a local nymph, Egesta,  their offspring, Egesto, is credited with founding the city.

Around 600 BC the Greek colony of Selinunte, 60 kilometers south of Segesta, which had dramatically grown since being founded around 650 BC, alarmed the Segestans.  Around 580 BCE, the rivalry with Selinunte finally broke out in war.  Likewise the Carthaginians viewed the Greeks as a menace on the northern coast.  Segesta allied itself with Carthage.  With the Greek victory over the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 BC, the Segestans quickly changed sides, allying themselves with Athens.

The Doric Temple of Segesta looks as though it were built a few hundred years ago, not twenty-six hundred.  Clues have led scholars to believe that the temple wasn’t ever actually finished, building tabs that should have been removed are still present, columns weren't fluted, and there was never a roof.  In 450 BC, Segesta's rival, Selinunte, allied herself with Syracuse.  Segesta turned to Athens for aid.  To the Athenians, Segesta was a city of little importance.  Before they would consider an alliance with Segesta they sent a delegation of diplomatic envoys to investigate the city's claims of wealth.  In order to deceive the Athenians into thinking they were prosperous, the Segestans built the temple to impress their visitors. Once the envoys departed, convinced of Segesta's wealth, work on the Temple ceased.