Eraclea di Dorieo, Selinunte e la fondazione di Erice

Abstract

Erice (Eryx) was founded at the beginning of the 5th century BC as shown by the
stratigraphic excavations. The character of the earliest phase of Erice shows Greek
influence on for instance the ashlar construction of the city wall and the position of
the thesmophorion in a liminal space. Equally significant is that Erice's coinage starts
under the banner of Selinunte. These elements, together with the written sources of
western Sicily of the late 6th or early 5th century BC, suggest that Selinunte played a
role in the foundation of Erice. The imposing walls of Erice may indicate that the settlement
served as a stronghold to control and defend the territory of Heraclea, the city
founded by the Spartan prince Dorieus, which was destroyed soon after its foundation
by the Carthaginians and Segestans.

Keywords: Dorieus, Herakleia, Eryx, Selinunte