One of the three ancient cities of the island — the other two were Peparethus and Panormos. It was founded on the northwestern side of Skopelos, at the site of today's Loutraki Glossa settlement, probably by Chalcidian colonists during the 8th century BC. Its ancient name was lost over time. The current name of the settlement, Loutraki, likely derives from the baths that operated in the area during the Roman period.
Traces of ancient Selinus can be seen on an imposing and naturally fortified hill called "Palaeokastro." Here stood the acropolis from the Classical period (5th-4th century BC), which may have included a temple of Athena, as indicated by the discovery of a statue base of the goddess, now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
The lower city, south and southeast of the acropolis, expanded during the Roman period to the southeast, parallel to the coastline. As in all Roman coastal provincial towns, its inhabitants would have enjoyed the Roman peace (pax Romana), which favored sea trade and coastal villas with views of the vast blue.
In the Roman Imperial period, from the 1st to the 4th century AD, Selinus experienced a final period of prosperity. Various finds from this era include inscriptions, statues, reliefs, as well as imported sarcophagi (stone tombs) for the burial of the dead, found in both Selinus and Peparethus, indicating the wealth of its inhabitants.