Megara Iblea

The ruined site of Megara Iblea, the ancient Megara Hyblaea, lies 21km/13mi north of Syracuse, to the north of Megara-Giannalena Station and 10km/6mi south of Augusta.

History

Megara is one of the oldest Dorian colonies in Sicily, if not the oldest. Migrants from Megara near Athens, under the leadership of Lamis, settled first in Leontinoi, then in Thapsos, before they finally found a place, in agreement with Hyblon, King of the Sikels, where they could make their home permanently. This site lay close to Hyblon's residence, which, like two other Sikel towns, had the name Hybla (the others were situated in the area of Paternò and Ragusa). In memory of their Greek homeland and as a reminder of the Sikel town the colonists