Eryx was an ancient settlement in Sicily. It does not appear to have ever received a Greek colony, but instead became gradually Hellenized, like most other cities of Sicily.
In 406 BC, a sea-fight took place between a Carthaginian and a Syracusan fleet off the neighborhood of Eryx, in which the latter was victorious. On occasion of the great expedition of Dionysius I of Syracuse to the west of Sicily in 397 BC, Eryx was one of the cities which joined the Syracusan despot just before the siege of Motya, but it was speedily recovered by Himilco in the following year.
In the First Punic War (264–241 BC) Eryx was hotly contested, and in 260 BC Hamilcar destroyed the city, moving the inhabitants to the neighboring city of Drepanum.
After the war, Eryx sinks into insignificance, and it may even be doubted whether it was ever restored. Cicero (106–43 BC) alludes to the temple, but never notices the town; and Strabo speaks of it as in his day almost uninhabited.
In 406 BC, a sea-fight took place between a Carthaginian and a Syracusan fleet off the neighborhood of Eryx, in which the latter was victorious. On occasion of the great expedition of Dionysius I of Syracuse to the west of Sicily in 397 BC, Eryx was one of the cities which joined the Syracusan despot just before the siege of Motya, but it was speedily recovered by Himilco in the following year.
In the First Punic War (264–241 BC) Eryx was hotly contested, and in 260 BC Hamilcar destroyed the city, moving the inhabitants to the neighboring city of Drepanum.
After the war, Eryx sinks into insignificance, and it may even be doubted whether it was ever restored. Cicero (106–43 BC) alludes to the temple, but never notices the town; and Strabo speaks of it as in his day almost uninhabited.
Modern location: Erice, Italy
