Selinunte - Demeter Malophoros Sanctuary

Passing southwards through the Acropolis, turn right onto the east-west road, cross the modione (Selinus) and on the road bending round to the north will be found some more ancient sites. They form part of the site of Demeter Malophoros. The first harbinger is a megaron to the left of the road. A little further on is the Demeter Temenos itself in the middle of an extensive graveyard. The function of this sanctuary is clearly linked to its position on the road from the Acropolis to the large necropolis of Manicalunga: funeral processions broke their journey here to call upon Demeter, the Goddess of Mysteries and her daughter Persephone, the Ruler of Fertility and Misconduct, Life and Death and Sicily's chief goddess. Here, in the Gaggera district near Selinunte, they had one of their major places of worship, where they were revered as Malophoros (Bearer of the Granite Apple) and Pasikratea (All Powerful Ruler). In addition, this region also worshipped Hecate, Goddess of the Underworld and the God of Sin Zeus Meilichios, Zeus as he appeared to the Underworld.