Kastron
The fortress stands around the ruins of a Greek temple between Triscina
and Selinunte. Of history the castle has none and even its
existence was forgotten by 1154. Edrisi seems to describe it
merely as a hamlet called ‘Al Asnam', which apparently
means - the pillars. However, no mention is made of the
fortress otherwise known as Kastron or Kastelion of
Selinunte. Presumably the castle was built in answer to the
Arab landing near Mazara in the ninth century, but it could be an
earlier coastal fort built to defend against such landings.
Description
Kastron occupies the southern end of the acropolis of ancient Selinunte
and is set around what is now called Temple O. The result is
a fortress about 130' square with two rectangular turrets at the
corners of the north front. There is also rectangular turret
half way down the west front and possibly a smaller turret at the SW
corner and a larger tower projecting centrally in the south
front. The fortress bears little resemblance to other
Byzantine castles which are listed under Aci castle. Indeed
it most resembles various post Roman forts in Wales, which often became
later Welsh llys. These were generally about 200' square and some
comment is made on them here. In the Mediterranean the
nearest fortress to this in style is probably Ain Tounga in Tunisia.
Why not join me at other Sicilian
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry