Ancient temple sat undiscovered atop Italy acropolis for years — until now, photos show

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ancient temple in Italy.

The ruins were located in Selinunte — a city on the southwestern coast of Sicily — which dates back thousands of years.

They were unearthed during a recent excavation of the city’s acropolis, according to an Aug. 9 news release from the Selinunte Archaeological Park.

Traces of the temple, which appears to have been small, were found alongside a previously discovered temple, known as Temple C.

Built in the sixth century B.C., Temple C is decorated with motifs from Greek mythology, including depictions of Medusa, Perseus and Pegasus, according to research from Cambridge University.

The newfound “structure is rectangular in shape and lacks the typical colonnade design of other temples and shrines within the religious centers,” according to Heritage Daily, an industry publication.

It’s just the latest finding to be made in Selinunte, which has been the subject of excavations by archaeologists from the University of Milan and New York University for over a decade. Also found during the recent excavation were a circular well, a gold jewel and coins.

Selinunte was one of the “most important Greek settlements in the West during the Archaic and Classical periods,” according to research from New York University.

It was founded in the seventh century B.C., making it at least 2,600 years old.

Its wealth was demonstrated by the large stone temples its inhabitants erected during the fifth and sixth centuries B.C.

However, in 250 B.C. — during the First Punic War — the city was abandoned and its defenses were dismantled.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Selinunte Archaeological Park.

This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Ancient temple sat undiscovered atop Italy acropolis for years — until now, photos show."