Eryx

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Eryx was an ancient Elymian city in western Sicily, known in Greek and Roman sources as Eryx (Ἔρυξ). The settlement occupied the northern sector of the summit plateau of Monte Erice, distinct from the sanctuary of the Temple of Venus Erycina, and forms part of the site of the modern town of Erice. As one of the principal centres of the Elymians, Eryx was never a Greek colony but came under strong Greek cultural influence from at least the 6th century BC, before passing to Carthaginian and later Roman control in the 3rd century BC. Its commanding position made it strategically important, particularly during the First Punic War. By the medieval period, the site of the ancient city had become part of the town’s giudecca (Jewish quarter), as the main urban centre expanded southward. Following the expulsion of the Jewish population from Sicily in the late 15th century, the district declined and has remained sparsely inhabited into modern times.

See also: Eryx (king of Sicily) The name of the city is attested in Greek and Roman sources as Eryx ( Ancient Greek : Ἔρυξ ). In Punic inscriptions it appears as ʾrk ( Punic : 𐤀‬𐤓𐤊 ), representing a Semitic form of the name.

The origin of the name is uncertain, though in Greek tradition it was associated with the eponymous hero Eryx. In later periods, the settlement became known as Monte San Giuliano during the Middle Ages, before adopting the modern name Erice in the 20th century.

The city of Eryx was situated on the mountain now known as Monte Erice, an isolated peak rising from the surrounding low-lying terrain in western Sicily.

Owing to its prominence, the mountain was regarded in antiquity as one of the highest in the island after Aetna, though its actual elevation is about 750 m (2,460 ft). It is described by Virgil and other Latin poets as comparable in scale to Athos and Aetna.

On the summit stood the sanctuary later known as the Temple of Venus Erycina, associated in later tradition with Aeneas. While the location of the sanctuary itself was well established, early modern scholarship placed the ancient city of Eryx near the convent of Santa Anna, about halfway down the mountain.

Modern archaeological and topographical studies, based on excavation campaigns carried out between 2009 and 2014 and on earlier investigations, indicate that the ancient city’s urban area was situated on the northern side of the summit, facing towards the coast and the port of Bonagia. It was enclosed by Elymian-Punic fortifications constructed from at least the early 5th century BC. It did not extend across the full extent of the modern town, which expanded in later periods.

These conclusions are based on stratigraphic excavations of the fortification walls and towers, analysis of construction techniques, and the study of associated material finds, particularly pottery used for chronological dating. The investigations also combined architectural analysis with topographical study of the terrain and the layout of the modern town, allowing the identification of the probable limits of the ancient settlement.

In the medieval period, this area formed part of the town’s giudecca (Jewish quarter), extending between the church of Sant’Antonio Abate, the Spanish Quarter, and the area known as the Fontanella. It descended southwards towards a line of fortifications, now lost, which once ran beneath the cliffs below the quarter. Following the expulsion of the Jewish population from Sicily in 1492 under Ferdinand II of Aragon, the district was largely abandoned and fell into decline.

- See also: Temple of Venus Erycina (Erice) The sanctuary of the Temple of Venus Erycina stood at a short distance from the urban settlement, occupying the top of a cylindrical-shaped spur surrounded by cliff. Ancient sources distinguish clearly between the temple on the summit and the town situated below on the slopes, indicating that the sanctuary lay outside the main inhabited area.

The summit itself was naturally divided by a deep ravine separating the highest sacred area from the adjoining plateau. This topography contributed to the defensible and isolated character of the sanctuary, which was difficult to access but commanded extensive views over the surrounding coasts.

Modern interpretations of the site have emphasised that this physical separation between summit and settlement helps explain ancient accounts of the city and temple being occupied independently during military operations.

See also: Temple of Venus Erycina (Erice) The sanctuary of the Temple of Venus Erycina stood at a short distance from the urban settlement, occupying the top of a cylindrical-shaped spur surrounded by cliff. Ancient sources distinguish clearly between the temple on the summit and the town situated below on the slopes, indicating that the sanctuary lay outside the main inhabited area.

The summit itself was naturally divided by a deep ravine separating the highest sacred area from the adjoining plateau. This topography contributed to the defensible and isolated character of the sanctuary, which was difficult to access but commanded extensive views over the surrounding coasts.

Modern interpretations of the site have emphasised that this physical separation between summit and settlement helps explain ancient accounts of the city and temple being occupied independently during military operations.

The origins of Eryx are uncertain, but archaeological evidence indicates the presence of a settlement by the late Archaic period, preceded by earlier occupation layers. Excavations beneath the city walls have revealed structures dating to the 6th century BCE, suggesting the existence of an indigenous settlement prior to the construction of the fortifications.

There is little clear evidence for the existence of a polis at Eryx before the late 6th or early 5th century BCE. Earlier Greek sources refer only to the territory of Eryx rather than to an established city, suggesting that the development of an urban centre occurred relatively late.

The emergence of a civic community at Eryx in the early 5th century BCE is also reflected in its coinage. The earliest issues, dated to this period, are associated with the emergence of the city as a polis. The use of Greek legends on these coins indicates participation in wider economic and cultural networks and reflects the adoption of Greek linguistic and monetary conventions.

The development of the urban centre may have been closely connected to the importance of the sanctuary, which appears to have held wider regional significance and likely played a central role around which the settlement developed.

Eryx formed part of the Elymian cultural sphere of western Sicily, whose communities maintained close political and economic relations with Phoenician settlements. Ancient sources describe the Elymians, including those of Eryx and Segesta, as non-Greek populations, although they were increasingly integrated into the wider Mediterranean world.