Editing Abacaenum

{{Short description|Ancient city of Magna Graecia, Sicily}}
'''Abacaenum''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀβάκαινον}};<ref>so in [[Diodorus|Diod.]] and [[Stephanus of Byzantium|Steph. Byz.]]</ref> {{lang|grc|Ἀβάκαινα}}<ref>so in [[Ptolemy|Ptol.]]</ref>) was an ancient city of [[Magna Graecia]] in [[Sicily]], situated about 6.5&nbsp;km from the north coast, between [[Tyndaris]] (modern [[Tindari]]) and Mylae (modern [[Milazzo]]), and 13&nbsp;km from the former city.

Remains of the city have been excavated from 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mammasicily.com/sites-of-interest-in-sicily/abacaenum.html|title = Abacaenum}}</ref>

==History==
Abacaenum was a city of the [[Siculi]] and does not appear to have ever been a [[ancient Greece|Greek]] colony, though it was influenced by Greek art and civilisation. For this reason it is considered a [[Polis|''poleis'']] of [[Magna Graecia]].<ref>Hansen & Nielsen (eds.), ''Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis'', pp. 189–248.</ref>

Its territory originally included that of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the [[Dionysius I of Syracuse|elder Dionysius]] when he founded that city in 395 BC.<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'' xiv. 78 § 5</ref> Dionysius defeated the Carthaginian general [[Mago (fleet commander)|Mago]] in the [[battle of Abacaenum]] in 393 BC.<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' xiv. 90. §§ 3-4</ref> From the way in which it is mentioned in the wars of Dionysius, [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]], and [[Hiero II|Hieron]],<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' xiv. 90 § 3, xix. 65 § 6, xix. 110 § 4, xxii. 13 § 2</ref> it is clear that it was a place of power and importance: but for a period from the time of Hieron it disappears from history, and no mention is found of it in the [[In Verrem|Verrine orations]] of [[Cicero]]. Its name is, however, found in [[Ptolemy]],<ref>Ptolemy iii. 4. § 12</ref> so that it appears to have still continued to exist in his day. Its decline was probably owing to the increasing prosperity of the neighbouring city of Tyndaris.
Abacaenum was allied with [[Agathocles of Syracuse]].<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.perseus-grc2:19.65 Diodorus Siculus, Library, § 19.65.1]</ref>

There can be little doubt that the ruins visible in the time of [[Tommaso Fazello]], at the foot of the hill on which the modern town of [[Tripi]] is situated, were those of Abacaenum. He speaks of fragments of masonry, prostrate columns, and the vestiges of walls, indicating the site of a large city, but which had been destroyed to its foundations.<ref>[[Tommaso Fazello]], ''de Rebus Siculis'' ix. 7; [[Cluverius]] ''Sicil. Ant.'' p. 386.</ref>

==Coinage==
[[File:Coin of Abacaenum.png|right|thumb|Coin of Abacaenum.]]
Abacaenum is famous for its mint and its silver and copper coins that bear the classic symbols of sows, boars and acorns found in museums around the world. The acorns evidently refer to the great forests of oak which still cover the neighbouring mountains and give pasture to large herds of swine.

==References==
*{{SmithDGRG|wstitle=Abacaenum}}
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{{Archaeological sites in Sicily}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38.0563|N|15.1020|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Sicily]]
[[Category:Ancient cities in Sicily]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Italy]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Italy]]

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