Listed 6 sub titles with search on: History for destination: "AKRAGAS Ancient city SICILY".
Near one hundred and eight years after the foundation of Gela, the Geloans founded Acragas (Agrigentum), so called from the river of that name, and made Aristonous and Pystilus their founders; giving their own institutions to the colony.
In Sicily a war broke out between the Syracusans and Acragantini for the following reasons. The Syracusans had overcome Ducetius, the ruler of the Siceli, cleared him of all charges when he became a suppliant, and specified that he should make his home in the city of the Corinthians. But after Ducetius had spent a short time in Corinth he broke the agreement, and on the plea that the gods had given him an oracular reply that he should found a city on the Fair Shore (Cale Acte) of Sicily, he sailed to the island with a number of colonists; some Siceli were also included, among whom was Archonides, the ruler of Herbita. He, then, was busied with the colonization of Cale Acte. But the Acragantini, partly because they were envious of the Syracusans and partly because they were accusing them of letting Ducetius, who was their common enemy, go free without consulting them, declared war upon the Syracusans. The cities of Sicily were divided, some of them taking the field with the Acragantini and others with the Syracusans, and so large armaments were mustered on both sides. Great emulation was shown by the cities as they pitched opposing camps at the Himera River, and in the conflict which followed the Syracusans were victorious and slew more than a thousand Acragantini. After the battle the Acragantini sent ambassadors to discuss terms and the Syracusans concluded a peace.
This extract is from: Diodorus Siculus, Library (ed. C. H. Oldfather, 1989). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains comments & interesting hyperlinks.
Himilco: A Carthaginian, who took Agrigentum in 406, and commanded in the wars with Dionysius I., tyrant of Syracuse, B.C. 405-368. Himilco was an able and successful general. He took Gela, Messana, and many other cities in Sicily, and at length besieged Syracuse by sea and land, but was finally defeated by Dionysius, who burned most of the Carthaginian vessels ( Diod. Sic. bks. xiii. and xiv.). Hamilco, in his despair, ended his life by voluntary starvation.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
At the end of the 5th c. the Carthaginians, resuming their attempt to conquer Sicily, captured Himera and Selinus and marched quickly toward Akragas. After a long siege the city was taken in 406 B.C.; temples and shrines were burnt and sacked, the whole city was razed to the ground. For many decades Akragas lay abandoned; it was rebuilt and repopulated only after 338 B.C. by the new lord of Syracuse, the Corinthian Timoleon, who defeated the Carthaginians and restored peace and democratic governments in the Sicilian towns. Akragas' new colonists, who were joined by the former inhabitants of the city, came from Elea and were led by Megellus and Pheristos.
The 1st of The Punic War
praetor in B.C. 215, when he carried on war against Philip in Greece; and consul in B.C. 210, when he carried on the war in Sicily, and took Agrigentum.
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!
