HIMERA (city in Sicily)
Ancient city
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Sicily
- Where
- 37.97° N, 13.82° E
Himera is home to hot springs that contain salt. Strabo 6.2.9 Nymphs caused warm springs to gush forth in Himera to please Athena during Heracles' visit. Diodorus 5.3 The natives consecrated a city and a plot of ground to Athena in the region of Himera. Diodorus 5.3
Described in the sources
The river Himera flows through the middle of Sicily. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.14 ¶3 +2 Demophilus was a painter from this city. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 35.36 ¶2 Himera is described as a wide-ruling city. Pindar, Olympian 12 ¶1 Terillus was the tyrant who ruled the city of Himera. Herodotus 7.165.1 The river Himera is located 18 miles from Cephaloedium. Strabo 6.2.1 Himera is the location where Stesichorus was to be found. Pausanias 3.19.13 The distance from the river Himera to Panormus is 35 miles. Strabo 6.2.1 Himera is located between the towns of Solus and Cephalœdis. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.14 ¶3 The city was not known to be inhabited at the time of writing. Strabo 6.2.6 Athena received a territory in the region of Himera as her portion of the island. Diodorus 5.3
Stories and history
The Zanclaei of Myloe were the founders of the settlement. Strabo 6.2.6 The people of Himera agree with the Crotonian account regarding Helen. Pausanias 3.19.11 Theron, the ruler of Acragas, expelled Terillus from his position in Himera. Herodotus 7.165.1