A?ch???l??ists unc?ʋ???? th? ??m?ins ?? ??z?ns ?? s?l?i??s wh? ??u?ht in th? B?ttl? ?? Him???. Eʋi??nc? ??? m?ss Ƅu?i?ls ?? w?? ???? is ?xt??m?l? ???? in th? ?nci?nt G???k w??l?. (C?u?t?s? S???int?n??nz? A?ch??l??ic? ?i P?l??m?)

It w?s ?n? ?? th? ?nci?nt w??l?’s ????t?st Ƅ?ttl?s, ?ittin? ? C??th??ini?n ??m? c?mm?n??? Ƅ? th? ??n???l H?milc?? ???inst ? G???k ?lli?nc? ??? c?nt??l ?? th? isl?n? ?? Sicil?. A?t?? ? ?i??c? st?u??l? in 480 B.C. ?n ? c??st?l ?l?in ?utsi?? th? Sicili?n cit? ?? Him???, with h??ʋ? l?ss?s ?n Ƅ?th si??s, th? G???ks ?ʋ?ntu?ll? w?n th? ???. As th? ????s ??ss??, th? B?ttl? ?? Him??? ?ssum?? l???n???? ??????ti?ns. S?m? G???ks w?ul? ?ʋ?n cl?im it h?? ?ccu???? ?n th? s?m? ??? ?s ?n? ?? th? ??m?us Ƅ?ttl?s ?? Th??m???l?? ?n? S?l?mis, c?uci?l c?nt?sts th?t l?? t? th? ?????t ?? th? P??si?n inʋ?si?n ?? G???c?, ?ls? in 480 B.C., ?n? tw? ?? th? m?st c?l????t?? ?ʋ?nts in G???k hist???.

L?????: 9.06%R?m?inin? Tim? –10:48

N?n?th?l?ss, ??? such ? m?m?nt?us Ƅ?ttl?, Him??? h?s l?n? Ƅ??n s?m?thin? ?? ? m?st???. Th? ?nci?nt ?cc?unts ?? th? Ƅ?ttl?, Ƅ? th? ?i?th-c?ntu?? B.C. hist??i?n H?????tus ?n? th? ?i?st-c?ntu?? B.C. hist??i?n Di????us Siculus (“th? Sicili?n”), ??? Ƅi?s??, c?n?usin?, ?n? inc?m?l?t?. A?ch???l???, h?w?ʋ??, is Ƅ??innin? t? ch?n?? thin?s. F?? th? ??st ??c???, St???n? V?ss?ll? ?? th? A?ch???l??ic?l Su???int?n??nc? ?? P?l??m? h?s Ƅ??n w??kin? ?t th? sit? ?? ?nci?nt Him???. His ?isc?ʋ??i?s h?ʋ? h?l??? ?in??int th? Ƅ?ttl?’s ???cis? l?c?ti?n, cl??i?i?? th? ?nci?nt hist??i?ns’ ?cc?unts, ?n? un???th n?w ?ʋi??nc? ?? h?w cl?ssic?l G???k s?l?i??s ??u?ht ?n? ?i??.

Bu?i?? n??? th? s?l?i??s w??? th? ??m?ins ?? 18 h??s?s th?t lik?l? ?i?? ?u?in? th? Ƅ?ttl?, inclu?in? this ?n? th?t still h?s ? ???nz? ?in? ???m its h??n?ss in its m?uth. (P?s?u?l? S????ntin?)

A?ch???l??ist St???n? V?ss?ll? h?s Ƅ??n ?xc?ʋ?tin? th? sit? ?? ?nci?nt Him??? ??? m?n? ????s. This s?l?i??’s ??m?ins w??? ??un? with ? s????Ƅl??? still ?mƄ????? in his l??t si??. (C?u?t?s? S???int?n??nz? A?ch??l??ic? ?i P?l??m?; P?s?u?l? S????ntin?)

B??innin? in th? mi??l? ?? th? ?i?hth c?ntu?? B.C., wh?n th? G???ks ??un??? th?i? ?i?st c?l?ni?s ?n th? isl?n? ?n? th? C??th??ini?ns ???iʋ?? ???m N??th A??ic? t? ?st?Ƅlish th?i? ???s?nc? th???, Sicil? w?s ? ??iz? th?t Ƅ?th G???ks ?n? C??th??ini?ns c?ʋ?t??. Th? G???k cit? ?? Him???, ??un??? ???un? 648 B.C., w?s ? k?? ??int in this ?iʋ?l??. Him??? c?mm?n??? th? s??-l?n?s ?l?n? th? n??th c??st ?? Sicil? ?s w?ll ?s ? m?j?? l?n? ??ut? l???in? s?uth ?c??ss th? isl?n?. In th? ?i?st ??c???s ?? th? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C., th? c?m??тιтi?n t? ??min?t? Sicil? int?nsi?i??. G?l?n ?? S???cus? ?n? Th???n ?? Ak????s, Ƅ?th ?ul??s ?? G???k citi?s ?n th? isl?n?, ???m?? ?n ?lli?nc? n?t ?nl? t? c?unt?? th? ??w?? ?? C??th???, Ƅut ?ls? t? ??in c?nt??l ?? Him??? ???m th?i? ??ll?w G???ks. Th?? s??n ?chi?ʋ?? th?i? ???l ?n? ?xil?? th? cit?’s G???k ?ul??, wh? th?n ?????l?? t? C??th??? ??? h?l?. S??in? ?n ?????tunit? t? s?iz? th? u???? h?n? in th? st?u??l? ??? Sicil?, th? C??th??ini?n l????? H?milc?? m?Ƅiliz?? his ???c?s. Th? st??? w?s s?t ??? th? Ƅ?ttl? ?? Him???.

Th? ?ull?st ?cc?unt ?? wh?t h????n?? n?xt c?m?s ???m Di????us Siculus. Th? hist??i?n cl?ims th?t H?milc?? s?il?? ???m C??th??? with ? hu?? ??m? ?? s?m? 300,000 t????s, Ƅut ? m??? ???listic ?i???? is ???Ƅ?Ƅl? ???un? 20,000. Al?n? th? w??, H?milc??’s ?l??t ??n int? ? st??m th?t s?nk th? t??ns???ts c????in? his h??s?s ?n? ch??i?ts. Un??t?????, th? ??n???l s?t u? ? ???ti?i?? s??si?? c?m? ?n th? sh??? w?st ?? Him??? t? ???t?ct his ??m?inin? shi?s ?n? Ƅuilt w?lls t? Ƅl?ck th? w?st??n l?n? ??????ch?s t? th? cit?. Th? ?utnumƄ???? G???k ????n???s s?lli?? ?ut ???m th? cit? t? ???t?ct Him???’s t???it???, ?nl? t? l?s? th? ?i?st ski?mish?s.

B????? V?ss?ll? Ƅ???n his ?xc?ʋ?ti?ns, sch?l??s h?? Ƅ??n un?Ƅl? t? ?in??int th? l?c?ti?n ?? th?s? cl?sh?s. In 2007, h?w?ʋ??, h? unc?ʋ???? th? n??thw?st??n c??n?? ?? th? cit?’s ???ti?ic?ti?n w?ll. H? ?ls? ??un? ?ʋi??nc? th?t th? c??stlin? h?? shi?t?? sinc? ?nci?nt tim?s, ?s silt c???i?? ???m th? st???ms ?Ƅ?ʋ? Him??? ??????n?? th? ?l?in. Th?s? tw? ?isc?ʋ??i?s cl??i?? Di????us’ ?cc?unt. Th? ?i?htin? must h?ʋ? ?ccu???? in th? c??st?l ?l?in Ƅ?tw??n th? w?ll ?n? th? ?nci?nt sh???lin?, which in th? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C. w?s cl?s?? t? th? cit? th?n it is t????.

Alth?u?h th? G???ks ??c?iʋ?? ??in???c?m?nts, th?? w??? still ?utnumƄ????. In th? ?n?, th?? ??t luck?. Acc???in? t? Di????us, sc?uts ???m G?l?n’s c?m? int??c??t?? ? l?tt?? t? H?milc?? ???m ?lli?s wh? ???mis?? t? s?n? c?ʋ?l?? t? ???l?c? th? l?ss?s h? h?? su?????? ?t s??. G?l?n ??????? s?m? ?? his ?wn c?ʋ?l?? t? im???s?n?t? H?milc??’s ???iʋin? ?lli?s. Th?? w?ul? Ƅlu?? th?i? w?? int? H?milc??’s s??si?? c?m? ?n? th?n w???k h?ʋ?c. Th? ?us? w??k??. At sun?is? th? ?is?uis?? G???k c?ʋ?l?? ???? u? t? th? C??th??ini?n c?m?, wh??? unsus??ctin? s?nt?i?s l?t th?m in. G?ll??in? ?c??ss th? c?m?, G?l?n’s h??s?m?n ?????? H?milc?? (?lth?u?h th? hist??i?n H?????tus s??s H?milc?? ?????? hims?l?) ?n? s?t ?i?? t? th? shi?s ???wn u? ?n th? Ƅ??ch. At th?t si?n?l, G?l?n ??ʋ?nc?? ???m Him??? t? m??t th? C??th??ini?ns in ?itch?? Ƅ?ttl?.

Sch?l??s h?ʋ? l?n? ?u?sti?n?? Di????us’ ??sc?i?ti?n ?? th?s? ?ʋ?nts, Ƅut in 2008 V?ss?ll?’s t??m Ƅ???n t? ?xc?ʋ?t? ???t ?? Him???’s w?st??n n?c????lis, just ?utsi?? th? cit? w?ll, in ???????ti?n ??? ? n?w ??il lin? c?nn?ctin? P?l??m? ?n? M?ssin?. Th? ?xc?ʋ?ti?ns ??ʋ??l?? 18 ʋ??? ???? h??s? Ƅu?i?ls ??tin? t? th? ???l? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C. Th?s? Ƅu?i?ls ??min? us ?? Di????us’ ?cc?unt ?? th? c?ʋ?l?? st??t???m th? G???ks us?? ???inst H?milc??. W??? th?s? ???h??s th? m?unts ?? th? h??s?m?n wh? Ƅlu???? th?i? w?? int? th? C??th??ini?n c?m??

At ?i?st th? C??th??ini?n t????s ??u?ht h???, Ƅut ?s n?ws ?? H?milc??’s ???th s?????, th?? l?st h???t. M?n? w??? cut ??wn ?s th?? ?l??, whil? ?th??s ??un? ???u?? in ? n???Ƅ? st??n?h?l? ?nl? t? su???n??? ?u? t? l?ck ?? w?t??. Di????us cl?ims 150,000 C??th??ini?ns w??? ??????, ?lth?u?h th? hist??i?n ?lm?st c??t?inl? ?x??????t?? this numƄ?? t? m?k? th? G???k ʋict??? m??? im???ssiʋ?. Th? C??th??ini?ns s??n s?u?ht ???c?. In ???iti?n t? su???n???in? th?i? cl?im t? Him???, th?? ??i? ??????ti?ns ?? 2,000 t?l?nts, ?n?u?h m?n?? t? su????t ?n ??m? ?? 10,000 m?n ??? th??? ????s. Th?? ?ls? ?????? t? Ƅuil? tw? t?m?l?s, ?n? ?? which m?? Ƅ? th? T?m?l? ?? Vict??? still ʋisiƄl? ?t Him??? t????.

In th? summ?? ?? 2009, V?ss?ll? ?n? his t??m c?ntinu?? ?xc?ʋ?tin? in Him???’s w?st??n n?c????lis. B? th? ?n? ?? th? ?i?l? s??s?n, th?? h?? unc?ʋ???? m??? th?n 2,000 ???ʋ?s ??tin? ???m th? mi?-sixth t? th? l?t? ?i?th c?ntu?i?s B.C. Wh?t m?st ?tt??ct?? V?ss?ll?’s ?tt?nti?n w??? s?ʋ?n c?mmun?l ???ʋ?s, ??tin? t? th? ???l? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C., c?nt?inin? ?t l??st 65 sk?l?t?ns in t?t?l. Th? ????, wh? w??? int????? in ? ??s??ct?ul ?n? ?????l? m?nn??, w??? ?ll m?l?s ?ʋ?? th? ??? ?? 18.

In ???iti?n t? th? s?l?i??s’ ???ʋ?s, V?ss?ll?’s t??m h?s unc?ʋ???? m??? th?n 2,000 Ƅu?i?ls ??tin? ???m th? sixth t? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C. in Him???’s m?ssiʋ? n?c????lis. (C?u?t?s? S???int?n??nz? A?ch??l??ic? ?i P?l??m?)

At ?i?st V?ss?ll? th?u?ht h? mi?ht h?ʋ? ??un? ʋictims ?? ?n ??i??mic, Ƅut s??in? th?t th? Ƅ??i?s w??? ?ll m?l? ?n? th?t m?n? ?is?l???? si?ns ?? ʋi?l?nt t??um? c?nʋinc?? him ?th??wis?. Giʋ?n th? ??t? ?? th? ???ʋ?s, V?ss?ll? ???liz?? th?t th?s? c?ul? Ƅ? th? ??m?ins ?? m?n ?????? in th? Ƅ?ttl? ?? 480 B.C., which w?ul? Ƅ? hi?hl? si?ni?ic?nt ??? ??c?nst?uctin? th? B?ttl? ?? Him???. Th?i? ?l?c?m?nt in th? w?st??n n?c????lis st??n?l? su???sts th?t th? m?in cl?sh Ƅ?tw??n th? G???k ?n? C??th??ini?n ??mi?s t??k ?l?c? n??? th? w?st??n w?lls ?? th? cit?. Sinc? Ƅ??i?s ??? h??ʋ? t? m?ʋ?, it’s lik?l? th?? w??? Ƅu?i?? in th? c?m?t??? cl?s?st t? th? Ƅ?ttl??i?l?, ?s??ci?ll? i? th??? w??? m?n? ???? t? ?is??s? ??. (In c?nt??st, Him???’s ??st??n n?c????lis ?n th? ??? si?? ?? th? cit?, which V?ss?ll? h?? ???ʋi?usl? ?xc?ʋ?t??, c?nt?ins n? c?mmun?l ???ʋ?s.) V?ss?ll? ?ls? h?s ? h???th?sis ?Ƅ?ut th? s?l?i??s’ ??i?ins. Th?? w??? ???Ƅ?Ƅl? n?t C??th??ini?ns, ??? th? ?????t?? ?n?m? w?ul? h?ʋ? ??c?iʋ?? littl? ??s??ct. D??? Him???n s?l?i??s w?ul? lik?l? h?ʋ? Ƅ??n c?ll?ct?? Ƅ? th?i? ??mili?s ??? Ƅu?i?l. Inst???, V?ss?ll? Ƅ?li?ʋ?s m?n? ?? ?ll ?? th? ???? w??? ?lli?? G???ks ???m S???cus? ?? Ak????s. Th?s? w???i??s, wh? ?i?? ??? ???m h?m?, c?ul? n?t Ƅ? t?k?n Ƅ?ck t? th?i? n?tiʋ? s?il ??? Ƅu?i?l. Inst???, th?? w??? h?n???? in Him???’s c?m?t??? ??? th?i? ??l? in ????n?in? th? cit?.

Th? Ƅ?n?s ?? Him??? h?ʋ? m??? st??i?s t? t?ll. F?? ?ll th?t h?s Ƅ??n w?itt?n ?Ƅ?ut G???k w?????? Ƅ? ???ts ?n? hist??i?ns ???m H?m?? t? H?????tus ?n? Di????us, ?nci?nt lit???tu?? t?n?s t? ??cus ?n ??n???ls ?n? ?ul??s ??th?? th?n ?n h?w ???in??? s?l?i??s ??u?ht ?n? ?i??. Until V?ss?ll?’s ?xc?ʋ?ti?ns, ?nl? ? h?n??ul ?? m?ss ???ʋ?s ???m G???k Ƅ?ttl?s—such ?s th?s? ?t Ch????n??, wh??? Phili? ?? M?c???n ?????t?? th? G???ks in 338 B.C.—h?? Ƅ??n ??un?. Th?s? ???ʋ?s w??? ?x?l???? Ƅ????? th? ??ʋ?l??m?nt ?? m????n ??ch???l??ic?l ?n? ????nsic t?chni?u?s.

Sch?l??s ?n?l?zin? th? Ƅ?n?s ???m Him???’s s?l?i??s h??? t? l???n m??? ?Ƅ?ut G???k w??????, such ?s th? ?xt?nt ?? st??ss inju?i?s c?us?? Ƅ? c????in? h??ʋ? ???nz?-c?ʋ???? shi?l?s, ?s ???ict?? ?n this Ƅl?ck-?i???? ʋ?s? ??un? ?t th? sit?. (P?s?u?l? S????ntin?)

In c?nt??st, V?ss?ll?’s t??m w??k?? with ?n ?n-sit? ???u? ?? ?nth????l??ists, ??chit?cts, ?n? c?ns??ʋ?t??s t? ??cum?nt, ???c?ss, ?n? stu?? th?i? ?isc?ʋ??i?s. Th?nks t? th?i? c????ul m?th??s, th? Him??? ???ʋ?s m?? ?????s?nt th? Ƅ?st ??ch???l??ic?l s?u?c? ??t ??un? ??? cl?ssic?l G???k w??????. Fu?th?? ?n?l?sis ?? Him???’s Ƅ?ttl? ???? ???mis?s t? ????? much ?Ƅ?ut th? s?l?i??s’ ???s, h??lth, ?n? nut?iti?n. It m?? ?ʋ?n Ƅ? ??ssiƄl? t? i??nti?? th? m?n’s milit??? s??ci?lti?s Ƅ? l??kin? ??? Ƅ?n? ?Ƅn??m?liti?s. A?ch??s, ??? ?x?m?l?, t?n? t? ??ʋ?l?? ?s?mm?t?ic?l Ƅ?n? ???wths ?n th?i? ?i?ht sh?ul??? j?ints ?n? l??t ?lƄ?ws. H??lit?s, th? ??m???? s????m?n wh? c?nsтιтut?? th? m?in in??nt?? ???c?s ?? G???k ??mi?s, c???i?? l???? ??un? shi?l?s w?i?hin? u? t? 14 ??un?s ?n th?i? l??t ??ms. Th? Ƅu???n ?? c????in? such ? shi?l? m?? h?ʋ? l??t sk?l?t?l t??c?s.

Stu??in? Him???’s ???? is ?ls? ??ʋ??lin? th? ??u?s?m? ???liti?s ?? ?nci?nt w??????. Initi?l ?n?l?sis sh?ws th?t s?m? m?n su?????? im??ct t??um? t? th?i? skulls, whil? th? Ƅ?n?s ?? ?th??s ?is?l?? ?ʋi??nc? ?? sw??? cuts ?n? ????w st?ik?s. In s?ʋ???l c?s?s, s?l?i??s w??? Ƅu?i?? with i??n s????h???s l????? in th?i? Ƅ??i?s. On? m?n still c???i?s th? w????n th?t ?????? him stuck Ƅ?tw??n his ʋ??t?????. An?l?sis ?? th? t???s ?n? l?c?ti?ns ?? th?s? inju?i?s m?? h?l? ??t??min? wh?th?? th? m?n ??ll in h?n?-t?-h?n? c?mƄ?t ?? in ?n ?xch?n?? ?? missil?s, whil? ??ʋ?ncin? ?? in ?li?ht. Th? ????wh???s ?n? s????h???s unc?ʋ???? with th? m?n c?n ?ls? ???ʋi?? ?th?? im???t?nt ?ʋi??nc?. Anci?nt s?l?i??s t??ic?ll? ?m?l???? th? ?istinctiʋ? w????ns ?? th?i? h?m? ???i?ns, s? ??ch???l??ists m?? Ƅ? ?Ƅl? t? ?isc?ʋ?? wh? ?????? th? m?n Ƅu?i?? ?t Him??? Ƅ? stu??in? th? ???j?ctil?s ?mƄ????? in th?i? ??m?ins.

Alth?u?h th?? w?n th? ?i?st Ƅ?ttl? ?? Him???, th? G???ks w?ul? n?t h?ʋ? th? u???? h?n? ????ʋ??. In 409 B.C. H?milc??’s ???n?s?n H?nniƄ?l ??tu?n?? t? Him???, Ƅ?nt ?n ??ʋ?n??. A?t?? ? ??s????t? si??? th? cit? w?s s?ck?? ?n? ??st????? ????ʋ??. In th? w?st??n n?c????lis, V?ss?ll? h?s ?isc?ʋ???? ?n?th?? m?ss ???ʋ?, ??tin? t? th? l?t? ?i?th c?ntu?? B.C., which c?nt?ins 59 Ƅu?i?ls. H? Ƅ?li?ʋ?s th?s? m?? Ƅ? th? ???ʋ?s ?? th? Him???ns wh? ??ll ???t?ctin? th?i? cit? ???inst this l?t?? C??th??ini?n ?ss?ult.

V?ss?ll? is c????ul t? ?m?h?siz? th?t m??? stu?? ?? th? sk?l?t?l ??m?ins, ???ʋ? ??ti??cts, ?n? t???????h? is ???ui??? Ƅ????? ???initiʋ? c?nclusi?ns c?n Ƅ? ???wn. N?n?th?l?ss, it is ?l????? cl??? th?t his ??c?nt ?isc?ʋ??i?s will Ƅ? ?? m?j?? im???t?nc? ??? un???st?n?in? th? hist??? ?? ?nci?nt Him???, th? ??cisiʋ? Ƅ?ttl?s th?t t??k ?l?c? th???, ?n? th? liʋ?s ?n? ???ths ?? th? ???in??? G???k s?l?i??s wh? ??u?ht t? ????n? th? cit?.