v38_0063 - SICILY - PANORMOS Litrai

SICILY - PANORMOS

(5th - 4th century BC)

We have little information on Panorme (Sys in Punic), the current Palermo. The city was colonized from the 7th century BC. Its history remains obscure until 480 BC. We know that it was one of the bridgeheads for the landing of invaders in Sicily, in particular Hamilcar at the time of the Battle of Himera. Coinage seems to have started around 415 BC and gained importance from 405 BC. Panorme was a very important link in the Carthaginian system of penetration into Sicily in the 4th century BC The city was besieged by Dionysius the Elder in 397 BC, then by Agathocles before being conquered by Pyrrhus of Epirus in 276 BC. The city was finally taken in 254 BC. C. by the Romans during the First Punic War. Hadrusbal attempted to retake the city in 251 BC but his attempt was foiled by Lucius Caecilius Metellus who seized his elephants.