Abacaenum

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Abacaenum (Ancient Greek: Ἀβάκαινον; Ἀβάκαινα) was an ancient city of Magna Graecia in Sicily, situated about 6.5 km from the north coast, between Tyndaris (modern Tindari) and Mylae (modern Milazzo), and 13 km from the former city. Remains of the city have been excavated from 2005.

History: Abacaenum was a city of the Siculi and does not appear to have ever been a Greek colony, though it was influenced by Greek art and civilisation. For this reason it is considered a poleis of Magna Graecia. Its territory originally included that of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the elder Dionysius when he founded that city in 395 BC. Dionysius defeated the Carthaginian general Mago in the battle of Abacaenum in 393 BC. From the way in which it is mentioned in the wars of Dionysius, Agathocles, and Hieron, it is clear that it was a place of power and importance: but for a period from the time of Hieron it disappears from history, and no mention is found of it in the Verrine orations of Cicero. Its name is, however, found in Ptolemy, so that it appears to have still continued to exist in his day. Its decline was probably owing to the increasing prosperity of the neighbouring city of...