The Walls and North Gate of the Ancient Greek City of Selinunte in Sicily Discovered

Recently, a team of archaeologists has unearthed sections of the walls that once surrounded the ancient Greek city of Selinunte, in southwestern Sicily, as well as the north gate, a crucial access point to the polis, confirming Selinunte’s strategic and cultural significance in the Mediterranean.

The new findings, presented on March 25 at Baglio Florio in Selinunte, reveal that at its peak in the late 5th century BC, the city housed at least 26,000 inhabitants, while its sphere of influence extended from Mazara to Monte Adranone and Sciacca, reaching a total population of 90,000. Archaeologists have identified at least 5,000 tombs in three different necropolises, all of which have been looted over the centuries.

The north gate, discovered during this excavation campaign, was the city’s most vulnerable entrance, unprotected by rivers or the sea, making it susceptible to attacks. According to the historian Diodorus Siculus, the Carthaginians besieged Selinunte from this direction, leading to a ten-day siege that resulted in the deaths of 16,000 combatants.

selinunte wall north gate — View of the finds at Selinunte, fragments of walls and the north gate of the city. Credit: Parco Archeologico di Selinunte, Cave di Cusa e Pantelleria

The presentation of the findings also included a new visual identity for the archaeological park, incorporating the iconic element of the selinon leaf, depicted on an ancient coin from the Archaic period.

Sicily’s Cultural Heritage Assessor, Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, emphasized that the park continues its historical recovery efforts thanks to its own funding, which helps attract a growing number of visitors to this corner of Sicily.

The park’s director, Felice Crescente, explained that these new discoveries build upon the insights of German archaeologist Dieter Mertens, who, in the 1990s, had suggested the existence of a more extensive wall than previously known. Mertens’ excitement over the current findings is palpable, as he himself had identified anomalies in the area that indicated the presence of defensive structures.

The discovery of the monumental gate, measuring approximately three meters in height, suggests that it was a passageway for funeral processions heading to the necropolis. Additionally, evidence of artisanal workshops near the walls has been found, indicating an active life in this ancient city.

To further the research, the park will implement innovative techniques such as three-dimensional geoelectric tomography, which allows for a more efficient exploration of the subsoil compared to ground-penetrating radar. This work has been carried out by young archaeologists from Archeofficina under the scientific direction of Carlo Zoppi, who has been involved in excavations at Selinunte for decades.

The park’s goal is to transform the area into a museum space and make it accessible to the public, including a virtual reconstruction of the ancient walls. This initiative is part of a comprehensive project aimed at enhancing the visitor experience with new signage and access routes that facilitate the exploration of the vast park, which covers areas of great historical interest.