Archaeological excavations in the ancient Greek city of Segesta (Ancient Greek: Ἔγεστα or Σεγέστα) in Sicily have uncovered significant remains that highlight its civic and cultural life.
The campaigns, directed by the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa under the leadership of Maria Cecilia Parra, were carried out with the Archaeological Park of Segesta. Researchers say the findings reveal how Segesta integrated Greek institutions while preserving its Elymian roots.
In a central public area, archaeologists uncovered the well-preserved remains of a court hall. They identified a raised platform for the judge, rows of plastered benches, and distinctive six-sided columns that framed the space. Scholars note that the structure reflects the role of law and civic order in Segesta, mirroring practices of the Greek polis.
Beside the hall, the team documented a complex water system of channels, drains, tanks, and underground conduits. The network supplied the Gymnasium, or Ephebikon, where young people received a general education and trained in athletics. Its presence confirms Segesta's adoption of Hellenistic educational traditions.
Stratigraphic analysis shows the area was repurposed in Late Antiquity. Once a civic hub, it shifted to pastoral use. Animal bone remains mark the transformation. Researchers say the change contrasts with the space's earlier monumental function.
Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, Regional Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, stated the discoveries confirm Segesta as a stratified site that continues to surprise, describing it as a model for cultural access.
Archaeological Park director Luigi Biondo added that the work expands knowledge of Segesta's medieval history while defining the boundaries of a public space that once stood at the center of civic life.
The Archaeological Park plans to add the discoveries to its visitor route through guided tours. Officials say the initiative will create an immersive experience and emphasize Segesta's enduring Greek heritage.
Known to the Greeks as Egesta, Segesta was one of the main cities of the Elymians, an indigenous people of Sicily. Myth linked its origins to Trojan exiles, a claim later used to strengthen ties with Rome.
Segesta's rivalry with nearby Selinunte led to alliances with Athens and later with Carthage, which destroyed Selinunte in 410 BC. During the First Punic War in 260 BC, Segesta turned against its Carthaginian occupiers, expelled the garrison, and pledged loyalty to Rome. In return, Rome granted the city free status, citing both its allegiance and its Trojan ancestry.
Though the city declined under the Roman Empire and was destroyed by the Saracens in the ninth century, its Greek heritage endures. The Doric temple and the exceptionally preserved theater on Mount Bárbaro still dominate the site, standing as enduring symbols of Segesta's place in the Greek Mediterranean world.