half-eaten meals abandoned when the invaders began their terrifying attack and un-fired pots, seemingly left by scared potters

An ancient city in Sicily, dubbed the 'Greek Pompeii', is finally revealing secrets that have lay hidden for 2,500 years.

Selinunte was an ancient Greek colony on the Mediterranean island that was invaded by North African fighters in the 5th century BC.

Many of its inhabitants were killed or enslaved and, over the years, the site and its abandoned artefacts became covered in sand and dirt.

Now archaeologists studying the region have uncovered many of these perfectly preserved items and are uncovering glimpses of daily life on the ancient site.

Selinunte (ruins of Temple C shown) was invaded by North African fighters in the 5th century BC, resulting in the death or enslavement of most of its inhabitants. Now archaeologists are uncovering glimpses of daily life at the large site in Sicily, which was preserved when it was buried with earth and sand over the centuries

The city was larger than Pompeii, at 250 acres compared to 170 acres, and was founded much earlier than the famous site near Naples.

While it may not have bodies and 'casts' of victims who were covered in volcanic ash, it does contain fragments of daily life that were preserved as people either fled for their lives, were killed or captured.

Archaeologists have found half-eaten meals abandoned when the invaders began their terrifying attack, under the remains of a burnt-out building, The Independent reported.

They also came across dozens of un-fired pots, which were seemingly left by scared potters before they were to place them in a kiln.

Over the 15 years that experts have combed the site for clues about its past, they have mapped its streets, harbour, industrial zone and some 2,500 abandoned houses.

Archaeologists have found half-eaten meals abandoned when the invaders began their terrifying attack, under the remains of a burnt-out building. A panoramic shot of the ruined city is pictured

Over the 15 years that experts have combed the site for clues about its past, they have mapped its streets, harbour, industrial zone and some 2,500 abandoned houses. A mosaic is shown left and Victoria map, right

Approximately 5,000 people were taken as slaves when the city (shown from above) was invaded by the Carthaginians, so that the lively city, which was home to up to 19,000 people, became a ghost town

THE RISE AND FALL OF SELINUNTE Selinunte was one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily. It is said to have been founded between 654 and 628BC and to have got its name from the ancient Greek for wild celery, which grew on the coastal spot. The leaf featured on the city's coins. Because of its westerly position, Selinunte had a lot of contact with the Carthaginians - a powerful ancient civilisation from Tunisia - and native Sicilians. Selinunte attained great power and prosperity, but little is known of its history. It enjoyed periods of tranquillity and opulence with good resources for war, land and sea as well as stolen wealth stashed in its temples, according to ancient writer Thucydides. But there were also times of despotism and turbulence. In spring 409BC, the Carthaginians sent a vast army of over 100,000, who overpowered the residents of Selinunte. The residents tried to defend themselves for days, despite the breaching of the city walls, but after a 10 day siege, most of the people were killed. According to sources, some 16,000 residents were slain, 5,000 made prisoners and 2,600 forced to become slaves. Advertisement

This has shed light on how ancient Greek outposts functioned, from the distribution of wealth to how different social rankings lived together.

Professor Martin Bentz of the University of Bonn, Director of the major current excavation at Selinunte, told The Independent's David Keys: 'Selinunte is the only classical Greek city where the entire metropolis is still preserved, mainly buried under sand and earth.

'It therefore gives us a unique opportunity to discover how an ancient Greek city functioned.'

Around 80 kilns and workshops have been revealed, complete with pot making equipment and even pigments used for decorating them.

These workshops were also used to make roof tiles and large food containers, revealing how the city was able to expand in times of prosperity because it was a trading post.

Potters played an important role in the city and even had their own chapel devoted to working class god Artemis as well as the goddess of fertility, Demeter, and the king of the gods, Zeus.

It is thought the city essentially ceased to exist in a day, when Carthaginian troops hailing from what is now Tunisia, breached the city's defensive walls and slaughtered some 16,000 inhabitants.

Approximately 5,000 more were taken a slaves so that the lively city, which was home to up to 19,000 people, became a ghost town.

Despite the city's prosperous past, only a handful of names of its occupants are known to historians, scratched onto the bottom of cups, for example.

Archaeologists are now focusing on the city's harbour, having combed its industrial zone, and hope to use geophysical survey techniques to reveal destroyed warehouses that would have stood nearby.

Artefacts including imported pottery, glass and bronze items from Egypt, Turkey, France and Italy have also been recovered from wealthy houses and temples.

The city was larger than Pompeii, at 250 acres compared to 170, and was founded much earlier than the famous site near Naples (pictured left) but does not have bodies entombed in volcanic ash (stock image right)

Professor Martin Bentz of the University of Bonn, said: 'Selinunte [marked on the map] is the only classical Greek city where the entire metropolis is still preserved, mainly buried under sand and earth. It therefore gives us a unique opportunity to discover how an ancient Greek city functioned'

Archaeologists recently came across dozens of un-fired pots, which were seemingly left by scared potters before they were to place them in a kiln. A bronze statuette from the site is shown left and a model of the Goddess Athena, (pictured right) was recovered from what is known as Temple A

Archaeologists are now focusing on the city's harbour, having combed its industrial zone, and hope to use geophysical survey techniques to reveal destroyed warehouses that would have stood nearby. A brooding panorama of the city's intricate layout is pictured above

It is thought that one of Selinunte's main exports was pottery, with some 300,000 vessels or tiles being produced annually before its fall.

Larger amphorae or vessels would have been used to export its wheat and olive oil too, with around 20 per cent of pottery items staying in the city.

Experts hope to examine ceramics found around the Mediterranean to get a better idea of which civilisations traded with each other.

Around 15 per cent of the city survives and is above ground, with its maze of a ruins a big draw to Victorians on the so-called Grand Tour, who called it the 'City of the Gods'.

Two of the temples were re-erected in the mid 20th century from columns topped by an earthquake 500 years ago.

It is thought that one of Selinunte's main exports was pottery, with some 300,000 vessels or tiles being produced annually before its fall. A terracotta ram's head from Temple B is shown above

The more of the city's buildings that are uncovered, the more details of daily life in the once flourishing settlement are revealed. Part of a frieze showing Europa on a bull is pictured left, while a terracotta alter depicting the myth of Daedalus, found at Temple B of the Acropolis of Selinunte, is pictured right

It is believed that one of Selinunte's (pictured above) main exports was pottery, with some 300,000 vessels or tiles being produced annually before its fall. Larger amphorae or vessels would have been used to export its wheat and olive oil too, with around 20 per cent of pottery items staying in the city