Palermo’s Salinas archeological museum hosts many treasures from antiquity. Many of the findings from Selinunte are housed here, including these late-4th/mid-3rd century BCE terracotta statuettes, made in the style of those traditionally made in Tanagra, Greece north of Athens. They were found in a Punic grave site.
Tag: archaeological
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #24. The Mother Goddess’ Presence is Everywhere
Demeter, the goddess of the grain, female fertilization, and the harvest, who is the mother of Persephone, represents the great matriarch in ancient Greek mythology. Her power to cultivate the bounties on the Earth’s surface for us are illustrated significantly during the myth of Demeter and Kore/Persephone. Before the Christian era, the Eleusinian Mysteries (as…
Dancing In Piazza Armerina
Waving a red scarf, this woman depicted in the Room of the Dance at the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina wears a decorative dress, elegant jewelry (note her bangles), and red shoes. She’s even sporting a cat eye makeup style! I like this woman! Archeologists think this 3rd/4th century C.E. mosaic was inspired…
The Juxtaposition Of Modern And Ancient In Sicily
The amphitheater at Segesta sits on top of Monte Bàrbaro at an elevation of 400 meters above sea level, facing north and therefore, the sea. It dates to the middle of the 3rd century B.C.E. Excavations of the area are taking place sporadically. Some have revealed the existence of structures dating back to the 9th…
Ancient Himera’s Colorful Lions
This recreation of the lion gutters of the Temple of Victory at the site of the ancient city of Himera on Sicily’s north coast illustrates the vibrant colors that the ancient Greek temples throughout the island once possessed. The Temple of Victory was built in the 5th century BCE to celebrate the monumental Greek victory…
Ancient Sicily That Sings
This lekythos with a woman lute player depicted on it was found in a tomb at Selinunte. Lekythoi (plural) were vases used to store oils for use in the gymnasium or bath or for funerary functions. Note the red-figure. This was an Athenian-style technique specific to the 5th century BCE.
Play On The Beach
On Friday, June 23, as part of the “Le Forme di Telesis,” or The Shapes of Telesis, arts festival, “The Trojan Women” by Euripedes will be presented in the Parco Archeologico di Selinunte e Cave di Cusa in Castelvetrano. The interpretation, which will emphasize the plight of women immigrants, will be performed on the beach…
Bedtime Stories
Some light reading before my early bedtime (I’m still pushing through my jetlag.)…
Savoring Sicily, Day 5: Eye Popping Opulence
Today’s highlight of Savoring Sicily has most definitely been the Villa Romana del Casale, pictured here. This is the Basilica room, so to speak. I wanted to show you this so you have an idea of the scope of this UNESCO site. It’s not a “villa,” as much as it’s a grand estate from the…