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52 NicolaChiarenza like environmentwith calmandbrackishwater particularly suitable for a harbour.1 Theurban sanctuary rose on the southeast edgeof theAcropolis andoverlooked theCottone lagoon. The rivers evidently affected Selinous’ landscape and urbanscape in several ways. They influenced the settlement structuredividing thecentral ridge fromtheouterhills andmade the land fertile. Their estuaries provided bays suitable for harbours and an environment rich in biodiversity. But on theotherhand, theyweremarshyandmalariousareas. Thesepositive and negative effects ofwater affected Selinous throughout the entire course of its history, until the twentieth century.2 Geologyandwater sources Fromageologicalpointofview, thesettlementarea iscomposedofsandyclay layersandcalcar- eous rocks.The thicknessof the latter is variable, fromonlya fewmetersdeepon theAcropolis to 15meters deep on theManuzza and easternhills. The overlapping of permeable andwater- proof layershas a strongpotential for the formationof aquifers and springs.3 The firstwere tappedbycircularwells located inmanyArchaicandClassicalhouses.4With regard to thewater springs, it is not easy to identify those available in antiquity. On the basis ofarchaeologicaldataandhistoricalmapsofSelinous,5 it seemsthat thesettlementwasprovid- ed with four springs:6 one at the Gaggera, one at the base of the west slope of theManuzza hill,7 oneon the east slope8 of the acropolis andoneon thenorthwest slopeof the easternhill (Fig. 1). These springsmighthave fedawater supply systemattestedby short sectionsof terra- cottawater-pipes. Nevertheless, the scanty data available do not permit full knowledge of the features, extensionandchronologyof this system.9 Therefore, it seems that thewater supplyat Selinousduring theArchaic andClassicalperi- ods dependedmainly on the initiative of individuals.10Most of the inhabitants relied onwells in theirhouses formostof theirneedsand resorted to springsand fountainswhen theyneeded fresh runningwater. Only two springswere locatedwithin the citywalls,while the twoothers wereoutsidethecityandbeyondtherivers.Thismadeitdifficult toreachrunningwatersources 1 Rabbel et al. 2014, 146. Structures and blocks located at the foot of the Acropolis’ southeast slope are usually consideredtobeharbourdocks(Fig. 1).Nevertheless, recentgeophysical investigation indicates thatharbourstruc- turesmighthavebeen locatedalso at thenorthern edgeof Cottonebay (Albers 2019, 124f.,withprevious referen- ces). 2 On the rivers’ estuaries andmarshy landscape see: Marconi 1994, 301; Greco – Tardo 2012, 193–196 figs. 1. 2; Rabbel et al. 2014; Bouffier 2015, 236. 238 figs. 2. 5; Greco – Tardo 2015, 108f.; Mazza 2016, 179. 183f. About the harbours: Tusa 2010, 219–226;Hermanns 2014;Albers 2019. 3 Regarding thegeologyof Selinous see: Crouch 2003, 70–74; Furcas 2019, 77. 4 Furcas 2019, 81–83. Bouffier 2009, 71. 5 The richest indetails is thatpublished inCavallari 1872,pl. 1. Theplanshows,among thearchitectural remains, thepositionofwater springs (‘fontana’) andwells (‘pozzo’). The sameplan is published inMertens 2003, fig.6. 6 The relation between Selinous and the so called ‘vasca selinuntina’ (about 15km to the northeast of Selinous) is still debated. Somescholars argued that this basinand the related sectionofwater-pipeprovidedSelinouswith fresh water from several springs (Fourmont 2012, with previous references). However, the dating of the ‘vasca selinuntina’ is still debated and there is no evidence of an aqueduct running from thebasin to Selinous (Mertens 2006, 331; Furcas 2019, 79f.). 7 Crouch 2004, 81 fig. 3, 18 andFurcas 2019, fig.3 indicate also a spring in themiddle of the eastern slopeof the Manuzza hill, but the source of this information is not clear. The plan published by J. Schubring (republished in Mertens 2003, fig. 7) indicates thepresence of awater spring (‘Quelle’), but according toCavallari 1872, pl. 1 only awellwas located there. 8 Theexistenceof thiswater spring is inferredby thepresenceof the fountain (seebelow). 9 Furcas 2009, 80f. 10 Bouffier 2009, 71. 74.