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 (10 months 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 (2 years ago)
Interesting archaeological site, in fact the urban fabric of the ancient city is still visible.

ant anto (4 years ago)
Archaeological site located in the industrial area between Augusta and Priolo.

Yami Yume (6 years ago)
Interesting, still full of ancient archeological relics, but abandonet to itself.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historical Gems of Costa Verde

Photo from Flickr, copyright Roman Moško

Historic Site of the week

Trencín Castle

Trenčín Castle is relatively large renovated castle, towering on a steep limestone cliff directly above the city of Trenčín. It is a dominant feature not only of Trenčín, but also of the entire Považie region. The castle is a national monument.

History of the castle cliff dates back to the Roman Empire, what is proved by the inscription on the castle cliff proclaiming the victory of Roman legion against Germans in the year 179.

Today’s castle was probably built on the hill-fort. The first proven building on the hill was the Great Moravian rotunda from the 9th century and later there was a stone residential tower, which served to protect the Kingdom of Hungary and the western border. In the late 13th century the castle became a property of Palatine Matúš Csák, who became Mr. of Váh and Tatras.

Matúš Csák of Trenčín built a tower, still known as Matthew’s, which is a dominant determinant of the whole building.