Carthage's sack of Messene in 397 BC demonstrated the vulnerability of Greek cities in Sicily during the Carthaginian counteroffensive against Dionysius of Syracuse.
Key Facts
- Date
- 397 BC
- Carthaginian commander
- Himilco
- Ships used in assault
- 200 ships
- Distance of staging point from Messene
- 12 miles
- Outcome for Messene
- City sacked and leveled
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Dionysius of Syracuse attacked the Carthaginian stronghold of Motya, prompting Carthage to launch a retaliatory expedition. Carthage dispatched an army under the general Himilco to Sicily with the objective of recovering lost territory and punishing the Greek cities allied with Syracuse.
Himilco sailed to Panormus and advanced along Sicily's northern coast to Cape Pelorum. While the Messenian army marched out to confront the Carthaginians on land, Himilco sent 200 troop-laden ships directly into the city, storming it and forcing the civilian population to flee into fortified positions in the surrounding countryside.
Himilco subsequently sacked and razed Messene entirely, leaving it in ruins. The destruction was not permanent, however, as the city was rebuilt following the conclusion of the war, illustrating the resilience of Greek settlements in Sicily despite the severity of Carthaginian military operations.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Himilco.
Side B
1 belligerent