Editing Marsala (section)

== Archaeology ==
[[File:Venus of Lilybaeum.jpg|thumb|200px|Venus of Lilybaeum]]
[[File:Mosaic from Domus of Boeo 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Mosaic floor: Domus of Boeo]]
[[File:Marsala ship 4.jpg|thumb|250px|Carthaginian ship (240 BC)]]

The archaeological area of Marsala has been investigated both through [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavations]] and [[Topography|topographic studies]]. [[Lilybaeum]], the ancient town, took up a rectangular area on Capo Boeo, a low and rocky [[promontory]] sloping gently down towards the sea. The urban layout of the town can be dated back to the 2nd century BC with modern-day ''Viale Vittorio Veneto'' the ''[[Decumanus Maximus]]'' and ''Viale Cesare Battisti'' the ''Cardo Maximus''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=La topografia di Lilybaeum|last=Vento|first=Maurizio|year=1999|location=Italy}}</ref>

Based on the archaeological findings at Capo Boeo, Lilybaeum was rebuilt twice, in the 1st century BC and in the 3rd century AD. There is not enough evidence to associate the latter with the [[365 Crete earthquake]], even though literature and archaeological discoveries elsewhere show that other Sicilian towns, such as [[Selinunte]], ''were'' affected.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bottari|first1=Carla|last2=Stiros|first2=Stathis C.|last3=Teramo|first3=Antonio|date=2009-02-06|title=Archaeological evidence for destructive earthquakes in Sicily between 400 B.C. and A.D. 600|journal=Geoarchaeology|language=en|volume=24|issue=2|pages=149|doi=10.1002/gea.20260|s2cid=128640363 |issn=0883-6353|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Several fragments of the city walls and floors and walls of public and private buildings are visible. Excavations in several places under the modern city have revealed rich mosaic floors in town houses.

The Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum houses an example of [[Carthaginian empire|Carthaginian]] ship possibly used during the [[Battle of the Aegates Islands]] (241 BC) found on the seabed off the coast of Marsala, as well as other ancient remains from the area, such as pottery, marble sculptures and mosaics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/dirbenicult/database/page_musei/pagina_musei_eng.asp?ID=85&IdSito=88|title=Regione Siciliana Assessorato Beni Culturali|website=regione.sicilia.it|access-date=2018-07-10}}</ref> Many fine painted tombs and funerary monuments have been excavated showing unique preservation of colours.

The three entrance gates into the town dating from [[Norman Italy|Norman times]]: Porta Nuova, Porta di Mare and Porta Mazara were rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries in a much grander form: Porta Mazara, ({{Langx|en|"Mazara Gate"}}) rebuilt in 1572,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museomirabilesicilia.it/marsala/porta-mazara.html|title=Porta Mazara|last=Mirabile|first=Totò|website=museomirabilesicilia.it|language=it-it|access-date=2018-07-08}}</ref> located in the south-east; Porta di Mare ({{Langx|en|"Sea Gate"}}) (renamed to Porta Garibaldi), rebuilt in 1685,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marsalaturismo.com/index.php?mn=1:141:0:0|title=Porta Garibaldi {{!}} Altri luoghi {{!}} Marsala Turismo - Portale turistico della Città di Marsala {{!}} Parole, immagini e atmosfere di una città senza tempo|last=S.r.l.|first=El-edrisi|website=Marsala Turismo - Portale turistico della Città di Marsala|language=en|access-date=2018-07-08}}</ref> located in the south-west of the town; Porta Nuova ({{Langx|en|"New Gate"}}) was rebuilt in 1790,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museomirabilesicilia.it/marsala/porta-nuova.html|title=Porta Nuova|last=Mirabile|first=Totò|website=museomirabilesicilia.it|language=it-it|access-date=2018-07-08}}</ref> and is located in the north-west of the town. The [[city council]] decided to [[demolish]] the city walls in 1887 to make way for the rapidly-expanding town. Along with this demolition was demolished the north-east gate called Porta Trapani, constructed in the early 17th century, nicknamed "Porticella" due to its small size in comparison to the other three gates of the town; it used to be located at the intersection of ''Via Pellegrino'' and ''Via Sardegna''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.amazing-world-in-free-stock-pictures-and-photos.com/marsala-top-tourist-attractions.html|title=Top Sites to See in Marsala {{!}} Visit Sicily|work=Amazing World in Pictures|access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>