Posted by dylan on Saturday, May 13, 2017 in 2017 Blog post.

The temple at Segesta is something of an anomaly among Mediterranean temples, and its history involves one of the most disastrous events in the Peloponnesian War.

At first glance, the temple doesn’t seem too different from others. However, taking a closer look, it’s hastily constructed and unfinished; the columns remain unfluted and the outcroppings on the stones that were used to lift the blocks were never taken off. Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be evidence of a roof, any sort of deity dedication, an altar, a cella (interior room), nor even paint (nearly all Greco-Roman temples were painted).

According to legend, the temple was built in an effort to solicit aid from Athens against the neighboring Selinunte. The Segestans wanted the Athenian envoys to recognize them as worthy of an alliance, so they constructed this temple to give the appearance of wealth. When the envoys arrived, they were treated to meals at the houses of various different citizens, and at each house there were golden plates and silverware. Unbeknownst to the Athenians, the Segestans would quickly wash off the dishes between houses and take them to the next house before the envoys arrived there. Due to the city’s feigned wealth in the large temple and the seeming ubiquity of golden ware, the Athenians agreed to assist them.

At this time, Athens was nearly fifteen years into what would be a thirty-year conflict against Sparta and her allies, the Peloponnesian War. The Sicilian Expedition, spurned on by Segesta’s request, began quite well for the Athenians, who scored victories against the Syracusans that became involved in the Segestans’ conflict. However, as the fighting in Sicily dragged on and the Spartans arrived, the Athenians began to falter; eventually they suffered a crushing loss, back in the bay of Syracuse. This signaled the beginning of the end for the greatest Greek city; the troops lost in this expedition hurt Athens badly, and eventually the war was lost.

I think we modern people can learn from the mistakes of Athens. We, too, can fall victim to false impressions that can hurt us in the end. Even though we’re separated by thousands of miles and thousands of years, we’re not all that different deep down. The temple at Segesta transcends cultural differences to urge us to look closer at those who try to impress us, to consider more carefully who we consider our friends.