Not far north of Marsala on Sicily lies a shallow lagoon, protected by a crooked finger of land, the Isola Grande. Within this lagoon is a small island called Moxia. This island houses a museum of Phoenician artifacts, and is itself a former Phoenician city. Many areas here have been or are currently under excavation.
We pulled into a dusty parking lot, clearly marked with a sign that said there was no fee to park, and were promptly asked by the men at the booth for 2 Euro. We paid up, and headed over to the small boat that would ferry us to the island. There is a Phoenician bridge that connects to another part of the island, and you used to be able to walk or ride a carriage across, even though it was slightly under water. That's no longer possible, as it has become dangerous.
The first thing that greeted us on the island was this spiny aloe like bush.
Our first stop on the island was to view the museum. Here are displayed items from the island itself, and some from the surrounding areas. Particularly striking was the Phoenician smiling death mask. Phoenician work is distinct from it's Greek counterpart, more stylized and blockish, with the exception of Ephebus of Motya. This statue has a long flowing tunic, and is the foremost item on display.
After that, we headed on a path that took us to most of the numbered sites on the map.
Our first stop was the Casa Del Mosaici. These Mosaics are made from pebbles, placed so that only a narrow edge is shown, the body of the pebble thrust downward. This is unlike any Mosaics we saw elsewhere on our trip.
As we worked our way around the island, we noticed areas where there was almost no vegetation, and all the plant stalks were encrusted with empty snail shells of various sizes.
After that it was on to the cothon. This man made pool, connected to the ocean by a narrow path, may have been used to harbor small boats, or maybe something else. No one is sure. On the opposite side, we saw real live archaeologists at work.
Among other attractions on the island are the north and south gate, and the necropolis.
Finally, we caught a return boat to the mainland of Sicily, and headed north past the salt flats and old windmills in the lagoon.
We pulled into a dusty parking lot, clearly marked with a sign that said there was no fee to park, and were promptly asked by the men at the booth for 2 Euro. We paid up, and headed over to the small boat that would ferry us to the island. There is a Phoenician bridge that connects to another part of the island, and you used to be able to walk or ride a carriage across, even though it was slightly under water. That's no longer possible, as it has become dangerous.
The first thing that greeted us on the island was this spiny aloe like bush.
After that, we headed on a path that took us to most of the numbered sites on the map.
Our first stop was the Casa Del Mosaici. These Mosaics are made from pebbles, placed so that only a narrow edge is shown, the body of the pebble thrust downward. This is unlike any Mosaics we saw elsewhere on our trip.
As we worked our way around the island, we noticed areas where there was almost no vegetation, and all the plant stalks were encrusted with empty snail shells of various sizes.
After that it was on to the cothon. This man made pool, connected to the ocean by a narrow path, may have been used to harbor small boats, or maybe something else. No one is sure. On the opposite side, we saw real live archaeologists at work.
Among other attractions on the island are the north and south gate, and the necropolis.
Finally, we caught a return boat to the mainland of Sicily, and headed north past the salt flats and old windmills in the lagoon.
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