Mozia

Mozia (it. Mozia or Mothia, siz. Mozzia ) is an ancient Phoenician city on the island of San Pantaleo on the western edge of Sicily in the lagoon eight kilometers north of Marsala. The settlement on the small island is interesting because when destroyed by Dionysius I of Syracuse never was a more extensive colonization there and Mozia according to archaeologists provides the opportunity to examine a Phoenician undeveloped.

History

The approximately 45-hectare island was an important Phoenician- Punic settlement, the Greeks under the name Motya ( ancient Greek: Μοτύα ) or Motye ( attisch-gr.: Μοτύη ) known. There are different interpretations of the city name ( or Mtw Hmtw written ): a translation is " woolen mill ," another current hypothesis connects the name with the Akkadian word " metu " means the standing water. Thucydides ( 6,2,6 ) reported that Motya was one of the three cities in which the Phoenicians retreated after the colonization of the Greeks. According to archaeological needs this or the foundation of the settlement end of the 8th century BC have taken place. Motya at this time was probably only a trading post. Focus of the settlement was in the north of the island. In the second half of the 7th century, the settlement expanded to the south and developed in the 6th century to the extent that one can call Motya as a city. A paved road ( still exists today and is marked) led across the lagoon base of the north side of the island to the main island of Sicily to Birgi Vecchio, which was traveled by car großrädrigen ( Diodorus xiv, 48). From him (XIV, 47-54 ) is also reported that the city was conquered 397 BC by Dionysius I of Syracuse. Although Motya could then be re-conquered by the Carthaginians, but the citizens settled in the newly established and rapidly burgeoning Lilybaeum. On the island only a few landowners remained that operated there until the end of the first Punic War agriculture. However, the settlement probably had no meaning, which is why it was not mentioned by the authors.

Today's state

Tectonic changes in the then existing bridge is the main island sunk, the previously existing road is still well in the shallow waters of the lagoon visible. From the once mighty city are still some fortifications and the Kothon ( inland port ), the sanctuary " Cappiddazzu " Tophet and the foundations of some houses available. A small museum housed in the excavations found ceramics, small sculptures, coins and the like.