The Greek cities and building in Sicily

[Tiberio]

Eraclea Minoa, modern Cattolica Eraclea, founded by Cretans in 600 a.C.

[Sikeliot]

Due to the strong genetic and phenotypical similarities between Sicilians and Cretans, one of three things, or some combination of them, are likely true:

1) A lot of the Greeks settling Sicily were Cretans
2) Pre-Greek Sicilians and Cretans were both of similar stock
3) Minoan contacts with Sicily, which are documented, had an impact on the population before Greek speakers even landed there

[Tiberio]

A lot of cities were also founded by Corinth and Chalkida, the Cretans founded cities in the southern coast.

[Sikeliot]

A lot of cities were also founded by Corinth and Chalkida, the Cretans founded cities in the southern coast.

Corinthians are not, today at least, genetically similar to Sicilians. So I suspect we should turn to the second two points I listed as explanations for the Cretan similarity.

[Tiberio]

There is a myth of Cocalo and Dedalo regarding the Cretans and indigenous Sicilians.

[Tiberio]

Ghelas, modern Gela, another city founded by the Cretans in 689 a.C.

[Sikeliot]

There is a myth of Cocalo and Dedalo regarding the Cretans and indigenous Sicilians.

It shows they had contact with one another. I would bet they had common roots. I know neither Minoans nor Sicanians spoke Indo-European languages, and both sailed and raided the eastern Mediterranean coasts. I suspected a link between Sicanians, Minoans and Philistines.

[Tiberio]

Neolithic Pelasgian stock imo.

[Sikeliot]

Neolithic Pelasgian stock imo.

It's likely both Sicilians and Cretans are very close to the original Neolithic farmers who came into Europe (what geneticists call the "EEF" component -- Early European Farmer).

[Tiberio]

Selinunte, near modern Castelvetrano, sub-colony of Megara Iblea founded by the Megaresi in 628 a.C.

This is the greatest for extension, archaeological site of Europe.