Megara Hyblaea

Megara Hyblaea is an ancient Greek city, the ruins of which can be seen between Catania and Syracuse in south-east Sicily. it offers a fascinating archaeological glimpse of life on the island  2500 years ago.

The ancient city of the Megarians…

The abandonment and lack of rebuilding of the ancient site have helped bring to light its original city plan. On the site today you can visit the Hellenistic walls, the remains of the “Agorà” with the two porticoes,  Hellenistic bathrooms, the  ‘heroon’, (the tomb dedicated to the heroes), the Temple of Hera, ruins of houses and some foundations of a temple.

You reach the ruins of the ancient city by following a path between two fields. Descending by a staircase you reach the streets of the Greek city, leading directly to the Agorà. The ancient city of the Megarians is obviously lower than the later Hellenistic city (IV-III century BC). Here you can admire the remains of the arcades that once decorated the square, where, in the middle, you can see some wells and several altars.

Hence you arrive to the Hellenistic shrine, shaped like a semicircle. Entering the sanctuary, you are in the room where they honoured the god (of which we don’t know the name). Here you can still see various artefacts including a small kiln for baking pottery votive, other basins of stone and clay for the collection of liquids and three lava stones.

Continuing your visit through Megara Hyblaea  you see the remains of homes – rather small, but with gardens; also interesting are the small temple from the the fourth century and thermal baths, with a floor made of stone and ceramic white tiles, crossed by small channels for runoff water.

Next to thermal baths, there is the so-called heroon, probably dedicated to the founder of the city.  Westbound you can see some parts of the ancient walls of the Hellenistic period with the wide gate. The remains of the ancient walls are visible near the necropolis, with a metal workshop and a Roman villa with private baths and the name of the owner (Gnaiou Modiou) written on the floor.

To the south of the city the remains of another gate are visible, from which there is the original route to Syracuse; close to it are some other remains of walls with a guard tower. It is also worth visiting the cemetery, full of a thousand graves (some excavations carried out already in the 19th century), where they were found some statues and vases, now kept in the Archaeological Museum of Syracuse. Among these are the famous Kourotrophos, the ancient limestone statue of the Mother Goddess Enthroned (sixth century BC.), nursing twins; and the Kouros of Megara (the marble torso of a man (Kouros) in Doric style).

Take the opportunity of a visit to Megara Hyblaea to stop in one of the many farmhouses or local producers to acquire certain products typical of the region – like the milk or honey so renowned for its goodness. Indeed, the main economic resource of the area is the agri-food and the cultivation of olives (olives have been grown here since earliest times and the birth of Megara and Selinunte).

Note: photo is copyright