Wall of Daedalus at Eryx
Legendary fortification wall at ancient Eryx in Sicily
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The Wall of Daedalus at Eryx is a wall at Erice, Sicily, traditionally associated with the sanctuary of Aphrodite at Eryx. The site later became the location of the Temple of Venus Erycina and the medieval Castle of Venus. Ancient writers, especially Diodorus Siculus, attributed the wall to the mythical craftsman Daedalus.
The Castle of Venus at Erice, within whose precinct modern scholars have identified the so-called Wall of Daedalus | |
 Interactive map of Wall of Daedalus at Eryx | |
| Location | Erice, Sicily, Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Province of Trapani |
| Coordinates | 38.035528°N 12.592096°E |
| Type | Fortification wall |
| Part of | Sanctuary of Aphrodite/Venus Erycina and the Castle of Venus |
| History | |
| Builder | Traditionally attributed to Daedalus |
| Material | Stone masonry |
| Founded | Traditionally mythical; surviving remains dated by some scholars to the Roman Republican period |
| Periods | Classical antiquity, Roman Republic |
| Cultures | Elymian, Punic, Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Giovanni Cultrera, Anna Maria Bisi, Salvatore De Vincenzo |
| Condition | Fragmentary remains |
| Public access | Yes |
Mythological background
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a craftsman and inventor who fled Crete after helping Theseus escape from the Labyrinth and kill the Minotaur. After the death of his son Icarus, he was said to have taken refuge in Sicily at the court of king Cocalus. Ancient traditions connected Daedalus with a number of buildings and engineering works in Sicily, including the wall at Eryx.[1]
According to Diodorus Siculus, Daedalus built a wall on the steep summit of Eryx to protect the sanctuary of Aphrodite there. Diodorus described the site as a narrow rocky height with the sanctuary built at the edge of the cliff. He wrote that the wall was built directly onto the precipice and was difficult to attack.[1]
Archaeological investigations
Excavations at the site of the modern Castle of Venus, traditionally identified with the sanctuary of Astarte/Aphrodite/Venus Erycina, were carried out by Giovanni Cultrera in the 1930s. Other investigations were later conducted by Antonino Salinas, Jole Bovio Marconi and Anna Maria Bisi.[2]
Between 2009 and 2014, Salvatore De Vincenzo directed new studies and excavations on the fortifications of ancient Eryx.[3] During this work, masonry inside the Castle of Venus precinct was identified with the so-called Wall of Daedalus described by Diodorus.[3]
De Vincenzo dated the surviving wall to the Roman Republican period based on its construction technique.[3] He described the masonry as isodomic, using evenly cut stone blocks of uniform height. Other remains in the area included limestone architectural fragments and a heated room identified by the presence of suspensurae.[3]
The date of the fortifications at Eryx is still debated. Different scholars have suggested dates ranging from the late 7th century BC to the early 4th century BC, and some have questioned the interpretation of earlier excavations and construction phases.[2]
A small excavation in the northern part of the castle courtyard in 2014 uncovered mostly medieval pottery, together with a quantity of black-figure pottery. De Vincenzo suggested that these finds may point to the presence of a sacred area nearby.[3]
Gallery
Castle of Venus site map, showing the Wall of Daedalus
Daedalus and Icarus, by Frederick Leighton, c. 1869
Cliffs below the Castle of Venus
Roman coin showing the temple and its fortification walls
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