Kamarina, Sicily

The ruins of the site and an archaeological museum are located south of the modern town of Scoglitti, a frazione (borough) of the comune (municipality) of Vittoria in the province of Ragusa.

After defeating the Syracusan army at the Heloros river, he besieged the city but was persuaded to retreat in exchange for possession of Camarina.

In 415 Thucydides describes a public meeting (syllogos)[4] at which the city decided for neutrality (though it later voted to reverse this decision[5]).

A series of more than 140 lead plates, discovered around the Temple of Athena, and with information about citizens written on them, has suggested to some that Kamarina used allotment to select jurors and city officials (as Athens and other democratic city-states did).

[7] To settle peace in the rest of the island, the two cities not only sent ambassadors but also granted them unusually broad power to conduct diplomacy and invited all the belligerents to convene and discuss peace terms which were agreed at the Congress of Gela,[8] and Syracuse ceded Morgantina to Camarina in exchange for money.

[10] After its fall, Gela was attacked by the Carthaginians in 405 BC and the allied Greek army cammanded by Dionysius I was defeated and led to the Sack of Camarina.

Dionysius evacuated Gela and the Greek army had fallen back to Camarina after a forced march along with Gelan refugees.

[12] The battle is notable for two events: first, the consul Aulus Atilius Calatinus's foolish decision to march his troops into a ravine where they were ambushed and almost massacred; secondly, the wisdom and bravery of the military tribune Marcus Calpurnius Flamma who identified the strategic advantage of a nearby hilltop and led 300 men to the top, diverting the Carthaginians from Atilius and allowing the main force to escape from the ravine.

Promontory of Kamarina
Map of ancient Kamarina
Horseman from Kamarina, 6th c. BC (Syracuse museum)
Carthaginian advance 260-259 BC
Roman Advance 258 BC