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Mas durante dois séculos foi próspera e poderosa, com marca própria, populoso – parece – de 80.000 pessoas, em uma colina de pedra calcária rodeada por dois rios, o Modione (o Selinus antiga) e Algodão, em cujas margens cresciam, luxuriante, salsa selvagem (ele Selinus, somente: aparecem em Selinunte), em uma terra fértil – De acordo com uma legenda, Empédocles dalCgrande recuperada, chamado para a ocasião – que para baixo inclinada em direção ao mar da África, quer dizer que a do osservava Quale, preocupado, o terrível Carthage.
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He was born rich, Selinunte, founded in the mid-seventh century. C. by colonists from Megara Hyblaea, near Syracuse, spintisi in the heart of the domains Carthaginians Island. The most westerly of the Greek colonies in Sicily was in the belly of the beast, between the Elymians of Segesta and the Phoenician-Punic Mozia. But for two centuries was prosperous and powerful, with its own brand, populous – seems – of 80.000 people, on a limestone hill surrounded by two rivers, the Modione (the ancient Selinus) and the Cottone, on the banks of which grew, luxuriant, wild parsley (it Selinus, note: onde Selinunte), in a fertile land – According to a legend, tempered by the great Empedocles, called for the occasion – that sloped down toward the sea of Africa, beyond which the observed, worried, the terrible Carthage. Pure, relations between the two cities remained largely peaceful coexistence, based in particular on trade. Apart from the frequent border disputes with Segesta, rather, in Selinunte were stabilizing, along with the original core pro-Greek, uses, morals, mode typically Punic. And maybe that's why his artistic development is more complex and original than that of other Greek colonies in Sicily, as can be seen in the extraordinary metopes that decorated the fronts of the temples, of which remain sixteen specimens that are the most proud of the Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo; or, also, the so-called Ephebe of Selinunte (recently moved to the Museum of Castelvetrano), bronze which has, setting next to all Greek, clear characteristics indigenous. Quickly the city extended its domains, founding Eraclea Minoa (570 a. C. about) and seizing a vast territory inside, corny, to the mouth of Platani. The sources speak of a progressive pro-Carthaginian attitude of the ruling class, reached the point of giving hospitality to Gisco, son of the Punic general Hamilcar, fallen in the great battle of Himera (480 a. C), he had seen the Carthaginiansadefeated by Greek forces, and in which it was declared a Selinunte neutral. Until, exploded the conflict between Athens and Syracuse – set directly on the request for help from Athens by Segesta, at yet another territorial dispute with Selinunte -, defeat of the Athenian expedition of Nicias, Segesta, feeling now at the mercy of Selinunte, called for help from Carthage. The siege lasted nine days, at the end of which (we are in 409 a.C.), Selinunte was destroyed after a desperate resistance. After, the Syracuse Her
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