They had traded with the Elymian, Sicani and Siculi communities and ultimately withdrew without resistance to Motya, Panormus and Solus when the Greeks arrived after 750 BC.

[11] These cities remained independent until becoming part of the Carthaginian hegemony after 540 BC, probably when Malchus of Carthage "conquered all Sicily" and sent the captured booty to Tyre.

During the 6th century BC, mostly under the leadership of the Magonid dynasty, Carthage established a commercially dominant position in the Western Mediterranean.

This prosperity enabled some of the Greek cities to start to expand their territories again, ultimately leading to the events known as the "First Sicilian War".

While Carthage remained engaged in Sardinia after 510 BC, most of the Greek cities in Sicily fell under the rule of tyrants.

To forestall any conflicts between Akragas and Syracuse, Gelo and Theron married into each other's families, thus creating a united front against the Sicels and Ionian Greeks of Sicily.

Thus, 3 power blocks were delicately balanced in Sicily by 483 BC – Ionians dominating the north, Carthage the west, Dorians the east and south.

The Sicels and Sikans in the interior remained passive, and if not directly under Greek rule, did not hinder the movements of their forces.

Terillus had come to power in Himera after expelling the ruling oligarchs (who had taken refuge in Akragas), and he probably lacked popular support, which may have been exploited by Theron.

Gelon also hedged his bets, he sent 3 ships under Cadmus of Kos to Delphi, with instructions to offer his submission to Xerxes in case of a Persian victory.

[1] According to the modern historians, the numbers are clearly inflated; the Punic army may not have been significantly larger than that of the Greek coalition.

The heavy African infantry fought in close formation, armed with long spears and round shields, wearing helmets and linen cuirasses.

The Iberian infantry wore purple bordered white tunics and leather headgear, and fought in a dense phalanx, armed with heavy javelins, long body shields and short thrusting swords.

The Libyans, Carthaginian citizens and the Libyo-Phoenicians provided disciplined, well trained cavalry equipped with thrusting spears and round shields.

The fleet was battered by storms at sea, losing the ships carrying the chariots and horses[28] – which was a significant factor in the coming battle.

The Greek fleet, able to muster 200 ships, did not contest the crossing, and in fact played no part in the coming battle.

Hamilcar led a picked body of men on reconnaissance mission, and defeated the Greeks in a pitched battle outside Himera.

The Greek and Punic armies fought from dawn to dusk, while Hamilcar watched the battle from his camp and offered sacrifices to Baal in a huge fire.

The Carthaginian army left their camp and formed up on the hill, forcing the Greeks to fight an uphill battle.

Sometime after the battle was joined, the disguised Greek horsemen killed Hamilcar while he was preparing the sacrifice, and then set fire to the beached ships, causing great confusion at the sea camp.

When the news of Hamilcar's death and the burning of ships reach the fighting armies, the Greeks pressed harder and routed the Carthaginians, who fled to their camp.

In an alternative version, Gelo ordered Pediarchos, his captain of archers, to "dress as the tyrant" to impersonate him and offer sacrifices in front of the camp.

He directed his attack on the flank and rear of the Iberian position inside the camp and also set fire to tents near them.

[35] About half of the Carthaginian army and majority of the fleet was destroyed, numerous prisoners and rich booty had fallen into Greek hands.

Carthage initially manned the city walls and prepared for a Greek invasion of Africa, and did not renew the struggle either.

Carthage paid 2,000 silver talents as indemnity, erected two monuments in the memory of Himera, but lost no territory.

Gelo, Theron and Hieron built public buildings using the slaves and spoils gained from the battle, such as the Temple of Victory.

During the construction of a railway extension in 2008, near the site of the ancient Greek city of Himera, archeologists uncovered more than 10,000 burials.

[39][40] Researchers note that DNA sequencing determined that warriors who took part in second battle were mercenaries brought from as far as modern-day Ukraine and Latvia.