Strong morning sunlight reveals stonework detail and patches of original plaster on fluted Doric columns and capitals at a corner of the rebuilt colonnade of Temple E, probably dedicated to goddess Hera, in the ancient Greek city and port of Selinus or Selinous at Selinunte in southwest Sicily, Italy. Although the temple probably collapsed in earthquakes after Selinus was abandoned, it was reconstructed in 1958 using the original materials.
Selinunte, Sicily, Italy: strong morning sunshine reveals textural detail and patches of original stucco or plaster on pitted stonework as it warms fluted Doric columns and capitals at a reconstructed corner of the colonnade of the Temple of Hera or Aphrodite in the ancient Greek city and port of Selinus or Selinous, on Sicily’s southwest Mediterranean coast. The structure, officially known as Temple E, stands with two other ruined temples east of the acropolis in the 570-hectare Selinunte Archaeological Park, the largest of its kind in Europe. Temple E, probably once dedicated to the goddess Hera, dates from around 460 to 450 BC. It measured by (222 x 77 ft) and had multiple staircases leading to successive levels. Like other temples at Selinunte, Temple E is believed to have collapsed in earthquakes long after Silenus was captured and sacked by the Cathaginians in 409 BC. However, unlike the others, it was partly reconstructed in 1958 by Italian archaeologist Jole Bovio Marconi, using the original materials. Silenus was founded in 651 or 628 BC by Greek colonists from Megara Hyblaea (modern Augusta in western Sicily), perhaps taking its name from wild celery (Greek: selinon) flourishing on the clifftop site. It achieved great prosperity in the 5th century BC, when most of its temples were built, but became embroiled in border disputes with the rival city of Segesta. Its end came after it formed an alliance with Syracuse against Carthage. In 409 BC, a 10-day siege of Silenus by a 100,000-strong Carthaginian army ended with its defensive walls being razed, many buildings destroyed, 16,000 of its inhabitants dead and 5,000 more taken prisoner. Only 2,600 people escaped. Although Silenus was later revived, the site was abandoned after Carthage moved its citizens to Lilybaeum (modern Marsala) in 250 BC.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Selinunte, Sicily, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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