Carthaginian naval victory near Catana gave Carthage control of Sicilian waters and enabled the subsequent siege of Syracuse.
Key Facts
- Date
- Summer 397 BC
- Greek commander
- Leptines, brother of Dionysius I
- Carthaginian naval commander
- Mago
- Carthaginian land commander
- Himilco
- Outcome
- Carthaginian fleet crushed Greek fleet
- Location
- Near city of Catana, Sicily
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the First Sicilian War between Syracuse and Carthage, the two powers contested control of Sicily. The Carthaginian army under Himilco was forced to detour around the erupting Mount Etna, leaving the Carthaginian fleet under Mago to operate independently near Catana while the Greek fleet under Leptines was in the same waters.
In the summer of 397 BC, the Carthaginian fleet commanded by Mago engaged and decisively defeated the Greek fleet under Leptines near the city of Catana in Sicily. The Greek army under Dionysius I was present in the vicinity but could not prevent the naval defeat.
The Carthaginian victory at Catana gave Carthage naval superiority around Sicily and directly led to the Carthaginian siege of Syracuse later in 397 BC, placing the principal Greek city of Sicily under severe threat.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Leptines, Dionysius I of Syracuse.
Side B
1 belligerent
Mago, Himilco.