Grotta della Sibilla di Marsala

Useful Information

photography — Grotta della Sibilla di Marsala, **Jean Houel** (1782). Sicily, Italy. Public Domain.

Location:	Lungomare Boeo, 91025 Marsala TP. (37.80066, 12.42809)
Open:	Only after appointment. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Jean Houel (1782): Voyage pittoresque des isles de Sicile, de Malte et de Lipari Paris, De l'imprimerie de monsieur, M.DCC.LXXXII online
Address:	Chiesa San Giovanni Battista, Lungomare Boeo, 91025 Marsala TP, Cell: +39-393-911-4018. Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo, Lungomare Boeo, n° 30, 91025 Marsala TP
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History

5th century

church built.

Description

The Grotta della Sibilla di Marsala (Sibyl’s Cave in Marsala) is located below the Chiesa San Giovanni Battista (Church of "Saint John the Baptist"). The site is located in the city Marsala, which was once named Lilybaeum during Roman times Today the archaeological site is a parque in the middle of the city, the Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo The catholic church was built on top of an ancient cave in the 5th century. The site was quite famous, as it was drawn by Jean Houel and so it was part of the Grand Tour. During the 17th and 18th century, the middle and northern European nobles and scholars started to travel to Italy, the land of history and culture. By the British it was called the Grand Tour, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote his book Italienreise about his own journey. Jean Houel, who traveled to Italy and visited Naples, Sicily, Malta and Lipari island in 1776 published four books with 146 drawings. He visited this site and created a description and drawings. As a result, the site was visited by others doing the Grand Tour.

In the Greco-Roman world, the Sibyl was a prophetess inspired by Apollo and spokesperson of the god. There were actually numerous Sybils, it was more like a title than a name. There is the famous legend though, which is locally attributed to the Sybil of Lilybaeum:

Amalthea lived in a cave and had the task of making Apollo’s oracles known. Apollo fell in love with Amalthea, and invited her to make a wish. She asked to live as many years as grains of sand she could hold in her hand. Apollo offered the Sibyl also youth, in addition to what she had asked, in exchange for her virginity. But the Sibyl refused, and as she grew older, her body dried up until, after about a thousand years, she dissolved into dust and nothing remained of her but her voice, which continued to utter Apollo’s oracles.

This legend is told in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but in a different version. And there it’s attributed to the Sybil of Cumae.

When Apollo offered to grant her a wish in exchange for her virginity, she took a handful of sand and asked to live for as many years as the grains of sand she held. But when she refused the god’s love, he allowed her body to wither away because she had failed to ask for eternal youth. Her body grew smaller with age and eventually was kept in a jar (ampulla). At the end only her voice was left.
Ovid: Metamorphoses

The underground space was an ancient place of worship, devoted to the adoration of water. There is a source of water in the center of the cave, which was thought to have powers, and was the cause for the predicitons. The Roman Solinus tells, that this place was the Cuman Sybil’s sepulchre. According to Diodorus Siculus, the spring was used by Carthagininan priests who followed General Hannibal in 410 BC. During the persecution of the Christians, the cave was used for secret services. When the persecution had ended, the first Lilybeum bishops, Gregorius and Pascasino transformed the site into a church. In the beginning the church belonged to the Basilian order, later it was passed to the Jesuits. The water source became a baptismal font. Due to the miraculous power of its water, the cave became a place of pilgrimage. The niche with the altar in the cave has a 15th century marble image of Saint John the Baptist, co-patron of the town.

Although being part of the archaeological park, it is not open with the nearby museum. There are events when the church is open, and it’s possible to make a reservation. Its definitely open on the 24-JUN, when the nativity of St. John the Baptist is celebrated. However, the first link below by the city Marsala has two 360° pictures which are quite impressive.