Mediterranean Southwest Europe (657–646 BCE): Greek and…
657 BCE to 646 BCE
Mediterranean Southwest Europe (657–646 BCE):
Greek and Phoenician Expansion in Sicily, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands
Between 657 and 646 BCE, Mediterranean Southwest Europe witnesses intensified Greek colonization in Sicily, Phoenician settlement expansions in the Balearic Islands, and growing Phoenician influence in Sardinia, marking significant developments in cultural exchanges, urban growth, and maritime trade across the region.
Founding of Selinus in Sicily (ca. 651 BCE)
In 651 BCE, colonists from Megara Hyblaea in Sicily and the Greek city of Megara found Selinus (modern Selinunte), on the island’s southern coast. Named after the wild celery (selinon) abundant in the area, Selinus is the westernmost Greek colony in Sicily. This strategically located city, positioned to exploit trade between Sicily, North Africa, and Iberia, will quickly rise to surpass its parent city in power and influence, becoming an essential hub in the western Mediterranean.
Establishment of Himera (ca. 649 BCE)
Around 649 BCE, Himera is founded on Sicily’s northern coast by Syracusan exiles and settlers from Zancle (Messana). Situated at the mouth of the northern Himeras (modern Grande) River, Himera's establishment underscores ongoing Greek efforts to dominate Sicily’s fertile coastal plains and control valuable maritime trade routes.
Phoenician Expansion in Ibiza and Formentera (654 BCE)
In 654 BCE, Phoenician settlers from Carthage establish a colony known as Ibossim (later Ebusus, modern Ibiza), part of the Balearic Islands. Dedicated to Bes, the Phoenician god of music and dance, Ibiza becomes an important Mediterranean trading post. Greeks visiting the islands refer to Ibiza and neighboring Formentera as the Pityûssai, meaning “pine-covered islands,” highlighting their distinct landscape and maritime importance.
Growth of Phoenician Carales (Cagliari) in Sardinia (ca. 650 BCE)
The strategic city of Carales (modern Cagliari) in southern Sardinia emerges as a prominent Phoenician colony around the mid-seventh century BCE. Located between fertile plains and the sea, protected by surrounding marshlands and accessible mountains, Carales grows into a vital hub connecting Phoenician trading networks between Sardinia and North Africa. Its secure port and defensive geography lay the foundations for Carales’s long-term prominence, extending later under Roman control.
Legacy of the Era
The era from 657 to 646 BCE significantly reshapes Mediterranean Southwest Europe through vibrant Greek and Phoenician expansions. New Greek colonies like Selinus and Himera significantly consolidate Greek cultural influence in Sicily. Meanwhile, Phoenician colonies in the Balearic Islands and Sardinia expand maritime trade, firmly embedding the region within wider Mediterranean commercial and cultural networks, setting critical foundations for future developments.
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