v53_0015 - SICILIA - AGRIGENTUM Tétradrachme

SICILY - AKRAGAS

(472-413 BC)

Agrigento was founded in the 6th century BC by settlers from Gela. The coinage seems to begin around 550 BC. Theron, tyrant of Agrigento, seized Himera in 482 BC. The latter and Gelon of Syracuse won a brilliant victory over the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 before J. - C. which made release the vice which Carthage made weigh on the island. After Theron's death in 472 BC, Democracy was restored. In 413, Agrigento, was rather favorable to the Athenians against the Syracusans. The city was destroyed during the Carthaginian invasion of 406 BC. It was nevertheless rebuilt, but did not regain its former glory. The Romans captured Agrigento in 210 BC, during the conquest of Sicily.