Mozia

Also spelled "Mothia," this island was inhabited by Phoenicians from the 8th century B.C. but it was abandoned in 397 B.C. after one of many wars with the Greeks. The people relocated to Marsala. At the point of departure by boat is an old salt works as evidenced by the windmill.

There is a submerged causeway through the Stagnone lagoon dating back to the 5th century B.C. When the tide is low in the summer, you can wade across to the island.

Mozia was likely chosen for a settlement because of low backdrops that could be easily defended. In a central trading route, it had a relatively save anchorage for ships.

Jean said Irene is the dog magnet. Maybe both of us!

Who knows what was found and moved from the rubble until an archeologist named Joseph Whitaker purchased the island early in the 20th century. We did not know the museum hours. Turns out the last boat leaves at 3 and we had only arrived at 1:30, so we saw little of the city plan.

Jean and I spent time in the museum. Some of the pieces have been removed to other museums but this one is still there. It was found in October 1979 in an excavation area on the island.  I called him, "the boy toy!" The original Greek statue was likely carved in the 5th century B.C. He may have been seized as war booty by the forces of Hanibal when they destroyed the powerful Sikeliote (Sicilian) city-states: Selenious, Himera, Akragas, Gela and Camarina.




I read in a Getty blog: "The incredible skill of the stone-carver is evident in the delicate pleats of the gossamer gown that clings sensuously to the body beneath, revealing much more than it conceals." The traditional interpretation is that the statue depicts a victorious charioteer like found on Sicilian Greek coins which show a cherioteer wearing similar garb and a victor's wreath on the head.  There are holes in the head suggesting something was attached.  See more at: http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/getty-voices-sicilian-journeys/#.dpuf 

On a site called experiencesicily.com, I read: "Thought to be the work of a Sicilian-Selinuntine sculpture, it is believed to have been made for a wealthy Phoenician or Greek local. The statue is larger than life (71.25 inches tall without his feet)."