Battle of Selinus - Aftermath

Aftermath

The Syracusan vanguard of 3,000 troops under Diocles had arrived at Akragas when Carthaginians finally captured Selinus. Unable to aid in the defense of that city, Diocles opened negotiations with Hannibal. The first Greek delegation was given harsh answers, but the second one led by Empediones, a pro Carthaginian Selinute, obtained permission to eventually rebuild the city and ransom prisoners. The Carthaginians razed the city to the ground, but spared the temples from any desecration, although the temple treasures were carried off. The mission entrusted to Hannibal had been totally fulfilled with the destruction of Selinus. Instead of returning to Carthage or negotiating a truce with the now hostile Greeks, Hannibal chose to march against Himera, the site of the crushing Carthaginian defeat in 480 BC. Syracusans, alert to the situation, began preparations to aid Himera in earnest. It is not known if the city of Himera had played a part during the battle of Selinus.

Selinus would later serve as the base for Hermocrates of Syracuse for his raiding on Punic territory in 407 BC, who would rebuild the walls of Selinus. The peace of 405 BC would allow Greeks to resettle in Selinus, but as a city, Selinus would never rise to its former glory, and would never again be a threat to Segesta. It would finally be destroyed during the First Punic War by Carthage and its citizens were relocated to Lilybaeum.