v36_0045 - SICILY - SEGESTA Didrachme

SICILY - SEGESTA

(5th - 4th century BC)

Segesta, founded by the Elymians, often came into conflict with its neighbours, particularly Selinunte. The Athenians took the pretext of a quarrel between the two cities to embark on the Sicilian expedition in 415 BC which ended two years later with the Athenian defeat, the betrayal of Alcibiades and the death of Nicias. During the Carthaginian invasion of 409 BC, Segesta fell under the domination of Carthage never to leave it. The city was besieged by Dionysius the Elder in 397 BC, but Himilcon delivered Segesta. The city allied with Agathokles in 307 BC before falling back under Carthaginian domination on his death and suffering the consequences. Segesta welcomed Pyrrhus in 276 BC and paid dearly for him.