Selinunte

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/selinunte

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Selinunte built?Circa 628 BC, likely by colonists from Megara Hyblaea
2. What is the peak population?Estimated 30,000 inhabitants (excluding slaves) prior to 409 BC
3. What is the architectural style?Primarily Doric, with significant temple complexes on and around the acropolis
4. What was Selinunte and where was it located?Selinunte was an ancient Greek city on the southwestern coast of Sicily, between the Cottone and Modione rivers.
5. Why were there so many temples in Selinunte?The temples showed the city’s wealth and religious devotion, honoring gods like Hera and Apollo.

Polis: An independent city-state in ancient Greece, characterized by its own government and territory.
Doric Order: The oldest and simplest of the three classical orders of ancient Greek architecture, characterized by sturdy columns and plain capitals.
Phoenician: Relating to the Phoenicians, an ancient Semitic civilization known for seafaring and trade, whose major city was Carthage.
Magna Graecia: The coastal areas of Southern Italy and Sicily colonized by Greeks from the 8th century BC onwards.