Segesta was one of the major cities of the Elymian people, one of the three indigenous peoples of Sicily. The other major cities of the Elymians were Eryx and Entella.
The population of Segesta was mixed Elymian and Ionian Greek, though the Elymians were soon Hellenized and took on external characteristics of Greek life. Segesta was in constant conflict with the city of Selinus. In 415 BC Segesta asked Athens for help against Selinus, leading to a disastrous Athenian expedition to Sicily.
Later they asked Carthage for help, leading to the total destruction of Selinus. Segesta remained an ally of Carthage thereafter, but was not punished by the Romans for its long alliance with Carthage, owing to the mythical common origin of the Romans and the Elymians (both descendants of refugees from Troy).
Instead, it was granted the state of a "free and immune" city.
The population of Segesta was mixed Elymian and Ionian Greek, though the Elymians were soon Hellenized and took on external characteristics of Greek life. Segesta was in constant conflict with the city of Selinus. In 415 BC Segesta asked Athens for help against Selinus, leading to a disastrous Athenian expedition to Sicily.
Later they asked Carthage for help, leading to the total destruction of Selinus. Segesta remained an ally of Carthage thereafter, but was not punished by the Romans for its long alliance with Carthage, owing to the mythical common origin of the Romans and the Elymians (both descendants of refugees from Troy).
Instead, it was granted the state of a "free and immune" city.
Modern location: Ruins near the commune of Calatafimi-Segesta, Italy
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