Himera

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Himera Description

Province: Palermo

Location

The ancient temple site of Himera lies on the northern coastal road, near the motorway exit of Buonfornello.

History

In 649/648 B.C. Himera was founded from Zancle (Messina) as a mixed Dorian-Ionian settlement close to the north coast of Sicily. The settlers believed the pre-Greek name to be Hemera (day), which led them to choose the cock, as harbinger of daybreak, to be the heraldic animal on their coins. Himera was - along with Selinunte on the south coast - the furthest west into Carthaginian territory that the Greek settlements penetrated. It achieved immense prosperity. Its most important citizen was the choral poet Stesichoros (his occupation of choral leader was also presumably

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Hobbies & Activities category: Archeological exhibit, museum; Architecture - Roman, Greek, classical; Archeological site or ruin