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Segesta was founded in pre-Hellenic times by the Elymians, a population of uncertain origin, probably Eastern Europe. Soon it rose to great importance both economically and for its strategic location between the Punic cities of north and west coasts. It was the eternal enemy of Selinunte, against which I invoke in 409 C the help of the Carthaginians, who razed. The destruction of Selinunte permanently marked the entrance of Segesta orbit Punic, but this did not influence on the costumes of the population which, on the contrary, were increasingly ellenizzandosi. During the Roman domination, the city had a good treatment thanks to a supposed relationship between the two peoples, but also went decaying more and more, until he lost his name. To date has been very little explored, although the excavations in progress has already highlighted the first vestiges of the old buildings. Have been brought to light only two monuments, the theater and the temple. The first, founded in the fifth century at the top of Mount Barbaro, in a highly dramatic, it was rebuilt in the Hellenistic age and today maintains the appearance of this second building. The cavea, 63 m in diameter, is in good condition, while the scene remains only the lower structures. The theater is used for classical performances. The temple is probably the most conspicuous building in a suburban sanctuary still unexplored. Also built in the fifth century, is a hexastyle peripteral. It looks unfinished columns were not fluted, there are no traces of the cover and the cell. The temple grandeggia alone on a hill in a very suggestive position, and is one of the most perfect and best preserved examples of Doric art.
Selinunte is at the center of the largest archaeological park in the Mediterranean, columns and colossal ruins of Greek temples are the remains of the city, located at the mouth of the river where it still grows wild parsley (Selinon) which gave its name to the river and the city. The Temple "C" is one of the oldest existing examples of Doric temple architecture, dating from the first half of the sixth century. BC The Temple "E" is the most striking, given its almost total reconstruction, had some metopes figured that adorned its front. Testimony of the ancient art of Selinunte and the original statue dell'Efebo. The Temple "D" is the most archaic, built in the mid-sixth century. BC within walking distance of the Temple "C" is located in the eastern hill Acropoli.Sulla arise two other temples "F" and "G", it is one of the greatest of classical antiquity. The ancient city inhabited since the foundation was destroyed by Carteginesi; Selinuntini the remaining went to reside on the Acropolis. Recent excavations and still in progress have revealed part of the city walls, of which we had no knowledge, and a door. At about ten miles west of Selinunte Selinunte engineers found the stone to better realize their great works in the Cave of Cusa, now in the Town of Campobello di Mazara.
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