Aetna (city)
Tetradrachm | |
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ΑΙΤΝΑΙΟΝ Head of bearded Silenus to the right; beneath, scarabaeus. | Zeus Aitnaios seated. In the field an eagle on a pine-tree |
AR, unicum, Bruxelles |
Aetna (Ancient Greek: Αἴτνη, Aítnē), was an ancient city of Magna Graecia in Sicily, situated at the foot of the mountain of the same name, on its southern declivity. It was originally a Sicelian city, and was called Inessa or Inessum.[1]
History
After the death of
At a subsequent period the strength of its position as a fortress, rendered it a place of importance in the civil dissensions of Sicily, and it became the refuge of the Syracusan knights who had opposed the elevation of
Location
Some doubt exists as to the site of Aetna. Strabo writes[7] that it was near Centuripe, and was the place from whence travellers usually ascended the mountain. But in another passage[8] he expressly says that it was only 80 stadia from Catana. The Antonine Itinerary[9] places it at 12 M. P. from Catana, and the same distance from Centuripi; its position between these two cities is further confirmed by Thucydides.[10] But notwithstanding these unusually precise data, its exact situation cannot be fixed with certainty.
Sicilian antiquaries generally place it at Santa Maria di Licodia, which agrees well with the strong position of the city, but is certainly too distant from Catana. On the other hand, San Nicolo dell'Arena, a convent just above
Coinage
There exist coins of Aetna in considerable numbers, but principally of copper; they bear the name of the people at full, ΑΙΤΝΑΙΩΝ. Those of silver, which are very rare, are similar to some of Catana, but bear only the abbreviated legend AITN.[13]
References
- Diodorushas the corrupt form Ἐννηδία.
- ^ Diod. xi. 76; Strabo vi. p. 268.
- ^ Thuc. iii. 103.
- ^ Id. vi. 96.
- ^ Diod. xiii. 113, xiv. 7, 8, 9, 14, 58, 61, xvi. 67, 82.
- ^ Cicero In Verrem iii. 2. 3, 44, 45, iv. 51.
- ^ vi. p. 273.
- ^ id. p. 268.
- ^ p. 93.
- ^ vi. 96.
- CluveriusSicil. p. 123; Amic. Lex. Topogr. Sic. vol. iii. p. 50; Mannert, Ital. vol. ii. p. 293.
- ISBN 0-691-03169-X), Map 47, notes..
- ^ Barclay Vincent Head: Historia Numorum
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Aetna". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.