Megara Hyblaea

Augusta, Italy

Megara Hyblaea is an ancient Greek colony in Sicily It was founded about 728 BC by colonists from Megara in Attica. In 628 the city established a colony at Selinus but in 483 was destroyed by the Syracusan leader Gelon. The city had a brief independent existence in the 4th century BC, when it issued coinage, but is heard of mainly as a fortified place.

Excavations carried on in 1891 led to the discovery of the northern portion of the western town wall, which in one section served at the same time as an embankment against floods. There is also an extensive necropolis, about 1500 tombs of which have been explored, and of a deposit of votive objects from a temple. The harbour lay to the north of the town.

In the mid-seventh century, the city was organised according to a regularised plan. An agora emerged with stoas on its north and eastern sides. This is one of the earliest known agoras.

Address

Augusta, Italy

See all sites in Augusta

Details

Founded: 728 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.britannica.com

Rating

4.1/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Sebastiano Mazzone (2 years ago)
Congratulations the visit to Megara Iblea and the show were very well organized and pleasant. With Archeoclub Augusta, Augusta Military Historical Study Center, La Ginestra Villasmundo, Legambiente Melilli

Rosaria Andolina (3 years ago)
Interesting archaeological site, in fact the urban fabric of the ancient city is still visible.

ant anto (5 years ago)
Archaeological site located in the industrial area between Augusta and Priolo.

Yami Yume (7 years ago)
Interesting, still full of ancient archeological relics, but abandonet to itself.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.