Lilybaeum
By Jimmy Joe
A coastal city in west Sicily. Historically, Lilybaeum (now Massala) was founded by the Carthaginians during the early fourth century BC. Lilybaeum was said to be the cult centre of Aphrodite.
According to the Argonautica, Apollonius Rhodius wrote that Aphrodite saved the Argonaut Butes from the Sirens.
Butes was the only one who could hear the Sirens’ song, while the other Argonauts couldn’t. Butes jumped overboard and swam towards his death. However, Aphrodite spirited him away to Lilybaeum, and he became the goddess’ lover. She bore him a son named Eryx, who would grow up and found his own city, which was named after himself, near Lilybaeum.
Related Information
Name
Lilybaeum, Lilybaeüm (Latin); Marsala (modern).
Rulers
Butes?
