Battle of the Himera River (311 BC)

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Battle of the Himera River
Part of The Sicilian Wars
Map of the main cities of Sicily that can be used for the First Punic War
Date 311 BC Location At the mouth of the Salso river, near modern Licata on Sicily, Italy Result Carthaginian victory
Belligerents
Carthage	Syracuse
Commanders and leaders
Hamilcar	Agathocles of Syracuse
Strength
39,000 infantry, 1,000 Balearic slingers, 5,000 cavalry	40,000
Casualties and losses
500	7,000

The Battle of the Himera River was fought in 311 BC^[1] between Carthage and Syracuse near the mouth of the Himera river (the modern Salso river). Hamilcar, grandson of Hanno the Great, led the Carthaginians, while the Syracusans were led by Agathocles. Agathocles initially surprised the Carthaginians with an attack on their camp, but the Greeks lost the battle when they were attacked by unexpected Carthaginian reinforcements. The Greek army took many casualties as it retreated. Agathocles managed to gather the remains of his army and retreat to Syracuse, but lost control of Sicily.

In classical antiquity the name Himera was used for two rivers on Sicily: the Imera Settentrionale and the Salso. The Imera Settentrionale flows north towards its mouth at the site of ancient Himera, the Salso follows a southern course to its mouth in modern Licata. The battle took place near the mouth of the Salso river because the Carthaginians positioned themselves on the hill of Ecnomus during the battle. This hill lies west of Licata.^[2]