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Himera, Sicily, c. 420 - 409 B.C.
Himera (Termini), on the north coast of Sicily, was an ancient Chalcidic colony from Zancle, founded in the middle of the seventh century B.C. In 409 B.C., Carthage attacked Himera. The city was unprepared; its fortifications weak. At first they were supported about 4000 auxiliaries from Syracuse, but their general, Diocles, seized with panic for the safety of Syracuse itself, abandoned Himera. The city was utterly destroyed, its buildings, even its temples, were razed to the ground. More than 3000 prisoners were executed by General Hannibal Mago as a human sacrifice to the memory of his grandfather General Hamilcar who had been defeated at the Battle of Himera in 480 B.C. The site has been desolate ever since. The few surviving Greeks were settled by the Carthaginians eleven kilometers west of Himera at Thermae Himeraeae (Termini Imerese today). Thermae was taken by the Romans during the First Punic War.SL89809. Bronze hemilitron, SNG Cop 320; Calciati I p. 43, 35; SGCV I 1110; SNG ANS 186, HGC 2 479, NGC AU, strike 5/5, surface 4/5 (4165061-001), Himera (Termini, Sicily, Italy) mint, weight 3.62g, maximum diameter 15.7mm, die axis 270o, c. 420 - 409 B.C.; obverse head of nymph Himera left, wearing sphendone, six pellets before, IM-E clockwise starting behind neck; reverse six pellets within laurel wreath; from the Martineit Collection of Ancient and World Coins; NGC| Lookup; SOLD
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