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Himera

Town, temple and antiquarium of the VII century BC

Himera

himera-the-town-and-the-temple
himera-the-town-and-the-temple
The Vittoria temple, the antiqurium and the town in the upper part
The Vittoria temple, the antiqurium and the town in the upper part
Houses, ruins
Houses, ruins
Colums of Vittoria temple
Colums of Vittoria temple
The market
The market
From the market area to the town
From the market area to the town
Temple in the upper side of Himera
Temple in the upper side of Himera
House
House
phiale-himera
phiale-himera
Vittoria temple
Vittoria temple
The town and the Mediterranean sea
The town and the Mediterranean sea
Holes for transporting the stones
Holes for transporting the stones
Vittoria temple, reconstruction
Vittoria temple, reconstruction
Vittoria temple, ruins
Vittoria temple, ruins
Vittoria temple
Vittoria temple
Vittoria temple
Vittoria temple
Himera, VII BC

 



phiale-himera

 

 

Himera was one of the most important of the Greek cities in Sicily. It was settled in 648 BC and saw two major battles, one in 480 and one in 409 BC, both against the Carthaginians.

They won the first battle but lost the second and the city was destroyed. Buried here were some of the finest discoveries in history, those of the warriors and horses from these battles.

 

 

 

These spectacular finds are now housed in the neighboring museum and among them are a gold Phiale (photo), various coins, beautiful vases and jewelry.


himera-the town and the temple

 

 

The city was developed on a plateau overlooking the sea.

At its entrance is a series of small shrines and some buildings that lead up to the highest point, where you can see the larger shrines on the Acropolis, and one almost certainly devoted to Athena.

 

 

 

 

 

himera-mammasicily (6)

 

 

Just beyond begin the ancient city of Himera (photo) divided by perpendicular streets.

We can see the ruins of the homes, that often have an outside porch.

You can see cisterns inside the houses and  the outlines of the rooms of these ancient dwellings are perfectly visible.

Moving south again, here are the ruins of other dense populated areas of Himera.

 

 

 

 

 

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In the lower part of Himera is the Temple della Vittoria that still has beautiful fluted columns and was dedicated to the victory over the Carthaginians in 480 BC. It is a temple in the Doric style, probably dedicated to Nike (the goodess of Victory), that had 56 gutters in the shape of lions’ heads.

They are now in the Archeology Museum in Palermo.

For the record, after that battle the Sicelioti made sign  a treaty to the Chartaginians in which, among other things, forced them to give up the famous human sacrifice perpetuated during their religious festivals.

 

 

Visit this site with our guide or ask more info to our Cultural Department info@splendidsicily.com

 

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