Himera was an important ancient Greek city of Sicily, situated on the north coast of the island, at the mouth of the river of the same name.
It was the first Greek settlement on this part of the island and was a strategic outpost just outside the eastern boundary of the Carthaginian-controlled west.
In 480 BC, a huge battle was fought outside Himera, which saw the Greek forces of Gelon, King of Syracuse, and Theron, tyrant of Agrigentum, defeat the Carthaginian force of Hamilcar the Magonid, ending a Carthaginian bid to restore the deposed tyrant of Himera.
In 409 BC the city was completely destroyed by a Carthagenian expedition to Sicily, and it was never rebuilt.
It was the first Greek settlement on this part of the island and was a strategic outpost just outside the eastern boundary of the Carthaginian-controlled west.
In 480 BC, a huge battle was fought outside Himera, which saw the Greek forces of Gelon, King of Syracuse, and Theron, tyrant of Agrigentum, defeat the Carthaginian force of Hamilcar the Magonid, ending a Carthaginian bid to restore the deposed tyrant of Himera.
In 409 BC the city was completely destroyed by a Carthagenian expedition to Sicily, and it was never rebuilt.
Modern location: Ruins close to Buonfornello, Sicily
(1)
Himera
An
AE
Hemilitron
struck 420-409 BC
in
Himera
Obverse: head of nymph left; •••••• / IM_E
Reverse: wreath, 6 • inside
Diameter:
14.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.85 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.85 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 320; Calciati I p. 43, 35; SGCV I 1110; SNG ANS 186
(2)
Himera
.jpg)
An
AR
Tetartemorion
struck Before 484 BC
in
Himera
Obverse: Cock striding left
Reverse: Incuse square with mill-sail pattern
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.21 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.21 g
No notes for this coin
Kraay-307 (illustrated by a broken example in Palermo), cf. SNG ANS-145