Kamarina, Sicily

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24 End of section 2 Section 3 of The Histories of Polybius, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording.

Encountering the Carthaginian fleet near the Hermaeum, they fell on them and easily routed them, capturing one hundred and fourteen ships with their crews.

Then, having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery, and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lepara.

End of chapter 24.

Encountering the Carthaginian fleet near the Hermaeum, they fell on them and easily routed them, capturing one hundred and fourteen ships with their crews.

Then having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina, when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery, and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24 End of section 2 Section 3 of the Histories of Polybius, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording.

Then having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter thirty-seven.

They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery, and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24 End of section 2 Section 3 of The Histories of Polybius, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording.

Then, having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36.

Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina, when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships, only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

At the same time hearing that the enemy's fleet was not far distant they began to get ready for battle As their ships were ill-built and slow in their movements someone suggested to them as a help in fighting The engines which afterwards came to be called Ravens They were constructed as follows On the prow stood a round pole four fathoms in height and three palms in diameter This pole had a pulley at the summit and rounded was put a gangway made of cross planks Attached by nails Four feet in width and six fathoms in length In this gangway was an oblong hole and it went round the pole at a distance of two fathoms from its near end The gangway also had a railing on each of its long sides as high as a man's knee At its extremity was fastened an iron object like a pestle Pointed at one end and with a ring at the other end So that the whole looked like the machine for pounding corn To this ring was attached a rope With which when the ship charged an enemy They raised the ravens By means of the pulley on the pole And let them down on the enemy's deck Sometimes from the prow and sometimes bringing them round When the ships collided broadsides Once the ravens were fixed in the planks of the enemy's deck And grappled the ships together If they were broadside on they boarded from all sides But if they had charged with the prow They attacked by passing over the gangway Of the raven itself Two abreast The leading pair protected the front by holding up their shields And those who followed secured the two flanks By resting the rims of their shields on the top of the railing Having then adopted this device They awaited an opportunity For going into action End of chapter 22 Chapter 23 As for Gaius Duilius No sooner had he learnt of the disaster Which had befallen the commander of the naval forces Than handing over his legions to the military tribunes He proceeded to the fleet Learning that the enemy Were ravaging the territory of Mylae He sailed against them with his whole force The Carthaginians on sighting him Put to sea Was a hundred and thirty sail Quite overjoyed and eager As they despised the inexperience of the Romans They all sailed straight on the enemy Not even thinking it worthwhile To maintain order in the attack But just as if they were falling on a prey That was obviously theirs They were commanded by Hannibal The saint Who stole out of Agrigentum By night with his army In the seven banked galley That was formerly King Pyrrhus' On approaching and seeing the ravens Hauled up on the prow of each ship The Carthaginians were at first nonplussed Being surprised at the construction of the engines However as they entirely gave the enemy Up for lost The front ships Attacked daringly But when the ships that came into collision Were in every case Held fast by the machines And the Roman crews Boarded My means of the ravens And attacked them hand to hand on deck Some of the Carthaginians were cut down And others surrendered From dismay At what was happening The battle having become Just like a fight on land So the first Thirty ships that engaged Were taken with All their crews Including the commanders Galley Hannibal himself Managing to escape Beyond his hopes By a miracle In the jolly boat The rest of the Carthaginian Force was bearing up As if to charge the enemy But seeing as they Approached The fate of the advanced Ships They turned aside And avoided The blows of the Engines Trusting in Their swiftness They veered Round the Enemy In the hope of being able To strike Him in safety Either on the Broadside Or on the stern But when the ravens Swung round And shifted In all directions And in all manner Of ways So that Those who Approach Them Where are necessity Grapple They finally Gave way And took to flight Terror stricken By this novel Experience And with the loss Of fifty ships End of chapter twenty Three Chapter Twenty Four When the Romans Had thus Contrary to all Expectation Gained the prospect Of success at Sea Their determination To prosecute The war Became twice As strong On this occasion They put in On the coast Of Sicily Raised the siege Of Segesta Which was in The last stage Of distress And in leaving Segesta Took the city Of Makella By assault After the Battle at sea Hamilcar The Carthaginian Commander of their Land Forces Who was quartered In the neighborhood Of Panormus Heard that in The Roman camp The allies and The Romans Were at variance As to which Had most Distinguished themselves In the battles And that the Allies Were encamped By themselves Between the Paropus And the hot springs Of Hemera Suddenly Falling on them With his Whole force As they were Breaking up Their camp He killed About four Thousand After this Action Hannibal With the ships That escaped Sailed away To Carthage And shortly after Crossed from there To Sardinia Taking with him Additional ships And some of the Most celebrated Naval officers Not long Afterwards he was Blockaded in One of the Harbors of Sardinia By the Romans And after Losing many Of his ships Was summarily Arrested by the Surviving Carthaginians And crucified The Romans I should explain From the moment They concerned Themselves with The sea Began to entertain Designs on Sardinia The Roman troops In Sicily Did nothing Worthy of note During the Following year But at its Close when they Had received Their new Commanders the Consuls of that Year Aulus Etillius And Gaius Sopicius 258 BC They started To attack Panormous Because the Carthaginian Forces were Wintering There The consuls When they got Close up to The city Offered battle With their Whole forces But as the Enemy did not Come out to Meet them They left Panormous And went off To attack Hippana This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause bringing up a siege battery And making a breach in the wall; they similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations they undertook the siege of Lipara End of Chapter 24 End of Section 2 Section Three of The Histories of Polybius Volume One This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org Read by A Rodrigo The Histories of Polybius Volume One By Polybius Translated by W R Paton Section Three Book One Chapters Twenty-Five to Thirty-Seven CHAPTER XXV Next year Gaius Atilius Regulus, the Roman consul, while anchored off Tyndaris caught sight of the Carthaginian fleet sailing past in disorder Ordering his crews to follow the leaders he dashed out before the rest with ten ships sailing together The Carthaginians observing that some of the enemy were still embarking and some just getting under way While those in the van had much outstripped the others turned and met them Surrounding them they sunk the rest of the ten and came very near to taking the admiral's ship with its crew However as it was well manned and swift It foiled their expectation and got out of danger The rest of the Roman fleet sailed up and gradually got into close order As soon as they faced the enemy They bore down on them and took ten ships with their crews Sinking eight The rest of the Carthaginian fleet withdrew to the islands known as Lipareian The result of this battle was that both sides thought That they had fought now on equal terms And both threw themselves more thoroughly Into the task of organizing a navy And disputing the command of the sea While in the meantime The land forces accomplished nothing worthy of mention But spent their time In minor operations Of no significance Two fifty six B C The Romans therefore After making preparations For the coming summer Set to sea With a fleet of three hundred and thirty decked ships of war And put in to Messene Starting again from there They sailed with Sicily On their right hand And doubling Cape Pachynus They came round to Ecnomus Because their land forces too Happened to be just in that neighbourhood The Carthaginianians Setting sail with three hundred and fifty decked vessels Touched at Lilybaeum And proceeding thence Came to anchor Off Heraclea Minoa END OF CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE THE PLAN OF THE ROMANS WAS TO SAIL TO AFRICA AND DEFLECT THE WAR TO THAT COUNTRY SO THAT THE CARTHAGINIANS MIGHT FIND NO LONGER SICILY BUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN TERRITORY IN DANGER THE CARTHAGINIANS WERE RESOLVED ON JUST THE OPPOSITE COURSE FOR AWARE AS THEY WERE THAT AFRICA IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY WOULD BE EASILY SUBDUED BY ANYONE WHO HAD ONCE INVADED IT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALLOW THIS AND WERE ANXIOUS TO RUN THE RISK OF A SEA BATTLE THE OBJECT OF THE ONE SIDE BEING TO PREVENT AND THAT OF THE OTHER TO FORCE A CROSSING IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEIR RIVAL AIMS WOULD RESULT IN THE STRUGGLE WHICH FOLLOWED THE ROMANS HAD MADE SUITABLE PREPARATIONS FOR BOTH CONTIGENCIES FOR AN ACTION AT SEA AND FOR A LANDING IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY FOR THE LATTER PURPOSE SELECTING THE BEST MEN FROM THEIR LAND FORCES THEY DIVIDED INTO FOUR CORE THE TOTAL FORCE THEY WERE ABOUT TO EMBARK EACH CORE HAD TWO NAMES IT WAS CALLED EITHER THE FIRST LEGION OR THE FIRST SQUADRON AND THE OTHERS ACCORDINGLY THE FOURTH HAD A THIRD NAME IN ADDITION THEY WERE CALLED TRIARII AFTER THE USAGE IN THE LAND FORCES THE WHOLE BODY EMBARKED ON THE SHIPS NUMBERED ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND EACH SHIP HOLDING THREE HUNDRED ROWERS AND A HUNDRED AND TWENTY SOLDIERS THE CARTHAGINIANS WERE CHIEFLY OR SOLEY ADAPTING THEIR PREPARATIONS TO A MARITIME WAR THEIR NUMBERS BEING TO RECKON BY THE NUMBER OF SHIPS ACTUALLY ABOVE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND THESE ARE FIGURES CALCULATED TO STRIKE NOT ONLY ONE PRESENT AND WITH THE FORCES UNDER HIS EYES BUT EVEN A HEARER WITH AMAZEMENT AT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE STRUGGLE AND AT THAT LAVISH OUTLAY AND VAST POWER OF THE TWO STATES WHICH MAY BE ESTIMATED FROM THE NUMBER OF MEN AND SHIPS THE ROMANS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE VOYAGE WAS ACROSS THE OPEN SEA AND THAT THE ENEMIES WERE MANY MORE THAN THEM THEY COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED BECAUSE THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW THAT THERE WERE STILL SOME ANOTHER WAY BACK THEN WHEN WE GOT HERE WE SAW Finally, behind these they stationed the fourth squadron known as Triarii placing each ship at a greater distance from the next so that the line overlapped that in front of it at each extremity.

When all had been put together in the manner I have described, the whole arrangement had the form of a wedge The apex of which was open, the base compact and the whole effective and practical while also difficult to break up.

End of chapter 26 Chapter 27 About the same time the Carthaginian commanders briefly addressed their forces They pointed out to them that in the event of victory in the battle, they would be fighting afterwards for Sicily But that if defeated they would have to fight for their own country and their homes And bade them take this to heart and embark When all readily did as they were ordered As their general's words had made clear to them the issues at stake They set to sea in a confident and menacing spirit The commanders when they saw the enemy's order adapted their own to it Three quarters of their force they drew up in a single line Extending their right wing to the open sea For the purpose of encircling the enemy With all their ships facing the Romans The remaining quarter of their force formed the left wing Of their whole line and reached shoreward At an angle with the rest Their right wing was under the command of the same Hanno Who had been worsted In the engagement near Agrigentum He had vessels for charging Also the swiftest quinqueremes for the outflanking movement The left wing was in the charge of Hamelcar The one who commanded in the sea battle at Tindaris And he Fighting as he was In the center of the whole line Made use of the following stratagem The battle was begun by the Romans who noticing That the Carthaginian line Was thin Owing to its great extent Delivered an attack on the centre The Carthaginian Centre Had received Hamalcar's orders To fall back at once With the view of breaking the order of The Romans And as they hastily retreated The Romans pursued Them vigorously While the first and second squadrons Thus pressed On the flying Enemy The third and Fourth Were separated From them The Third Squadron Towing the horse transports And the triarii Remaining with them As a supporting Force When the Carthaginians thought they had drawn off the First and Second Squadrons Far enough from the others They all On receiving A signal from Hammilcar's Ship Turned simultaneously And attacked their pursuers The engagement that followed Was a very hot One The superior speed of the Carthaginiians Enabling them to move round the enemy's flank As well as to approach easily And retire rapidly While the Romans Relying on their sheer strength When they closed with the enemy Grappling with the ravens Every ship As soon as It approached Fighting also as they were Under the very eyes Of both the consuls Who were personally taking part in the combat Had no less high hopes of success Such then was the state of the Battle in this Quarter End of chapter twenty-seven Chapter Twenty-eight At one and the same time Hanno with the Right Wing Which had held Its Distance In the First Attack Sailed across the Open Sea And fell upon the Ships of the Triarii Causing them Great embarrassment and distress Meanwhile That Part of the Carthaginian Force Which was Posted Near the Shore Changing their former formation And deploying into Line with their prows Facing the enemy Attacked the Vessels which were towing The Horse Transports Letting go their tow lines This squadron met An engaged The enemy Thus the Whole conflict Consisted of three parts And three battles were going on At a wide distance From Each other As the respective Forces were in each case Of equal Strength owing to their Disposition at the outset The battle also was fought on Equal terms However in each Case Things Fell Out as one Would expect When the forces Engaged are So equally Matched Those who had Commenced the battle Were the first to Be Separated For Hamulcar's Division was finally Forced Back and took to flight Lucius Was now occupied in Taking the prizes In Toe And Marcus Observing the Struggle in which the Triarii And Horse Transports were Involved Hastened to their assistance With such of the Ships of the Second Squadron as were Undamaged When he Reached Hanno's division And came Into Conflict with it The Triarii at Once Took Heart Though they had had much the Worst of it And recovered Their fighting Spirit The Carthaginians Attacked Both in Front and in the Rear Were in Difficulties Finding themselves Surrounded To their surprise By the Relieving Force And giving way They began to retreat Out to see Meanwhile both Lucius Who was by this Time sailing Up and observed That the Third Squadron was Shut in Close to the shore by the Carthaginian Left Wing And Marcus Who had Now left the Horse Transports entry Arii In safety Hastened Together to the relief of this Force which was in grave Peril For the State of matters Now was just like a Siege And they would All evidently Have been lost If the Carthaginians had not Been afraid of the Ravens And simply hedged them in And Held them close to the Land instead of Charging Apprehensive as they were of Coming to close Quarters The consoles coming up Rapidly and Surrounding the Carthaginians Captured Fifty Ships with their crews A few managing to slip out Alongshore and Escape The separate counters fell out As I have Described And the final result of the whole Battle Was in favor of the Romans The latter Lost Twenty four Sail sunk And the Carthaginians More than Thirty Not a Single Roman ship with its crew Fell into the Enemies hands but Sixty Four carthagenian Ships were so captured End of chapter twenty eight Chapter Twenty Nine After this The romans Laying in a Further supply of Provisions Repairing the Capturesd And bestowing on their men the attention which their success deserved, put to sea and sailed towards Africa, reaching the shore with their advanced ships under the promontory known as the Hermaeum, which lies in front of the whole Gulf of Carthage and stretches out to sea in the direction of Sicily.

Encountering the Carthaginian fleet near the Hermaium, they fell on them and easily routed them, capturing one hundred and fourteen ships with their crews.

Then, having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety, and were off the territory of Camarina when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved The rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands And broken to pieces Covering the shore with corpses and wreckage History tells of no greater catastrophe at sea taking place at one time The blame must be laid not so much on ill fortune as on the commanders For the captains had repeatedly urged them Not to sail Along the outer coast of Sicily That turned towards the Libyan Sea As it was very rugged and had few safe anchorages They also warned them that One of the dangerous astral periods Was not over And another just approaching For it was between the rising of Orion and that of Sirius That they undertook the voyage Sirius rises in July Orion early in December The commanders however paid no attention To a single word they said And there they were in the open sea Thinking to strike terror into some Of the cities they passed By the brilliancy of their recent success And thus win them over But now all for the sake of such meager expectations They exposed themselves to this great disaster And were obliged to acknowledge Their lack of judgment The Romans to speak generally Rely on force in all their enterprises And think it is incumbent on them To carry out their projects In spite of all And that nothing is impossible When they have once decided on it They owe their success in many cases To this spirit But sometimes they conspicuously fail By reason of it and especially At sea For on land they are attacking men And the works of man And are usually successful As there they are employing Force against forces of the same nature Although even here they Have in some rare instances failed But when they come to encounter The sea and the atmosphere And choose to fight them by force They meet with signal defeats It was so on this occasion And on many others And will always continue to be so Until they correct This fault of daring and violence Which makes them think they can Sail and travel where they will At no matter what season End of chapter thirty seven End of section three Section four of the histories of Polybius volume one This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings Are in the public domain For more information Or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox dot org The Histories of Polybius Volume 1 by Polybius Translated by W.R. Paton Section 4 Book 1 Chapters 38 to 48 Chapter 38 The Carthaginians On hearing of the destruction of the Roman fleet Conceiving themselves to be Now a match for the Romans Both on land Owing to their recent success And at sea Owing to this disaster Were encouraged to make More extensive military and naval preparations They at once dispatched Hasdrubal to Sicily Giving him the troops They previously had And a force which Had joined them from Heraclea Together with a hundred and forty elephants After dispatching him They began to get ready for sea Two hundred ships And to make all other Preparations for a naval expedition Hasdrubal Having crossed in safety to Lilybaeum Occupied himself In drilling unopposed His elephants and the Rest of his force And plainly intended To dispute the possession Of the open country The Romans On receiving full Information about the Disaster From the survivors of the shipwreck Were deeply grieved But being resolved On no account to give in They decided to put on the stocks A fresh fleet Of two hundred and twenty ships In three months They were completed A thing difficult to believe And the new consuls Two fifty-four B.C. Aulus Attilius And Gnaeus Cornelius Having fitted out the fleet Put to sea And passing the straits Picked up at Messene The ships that had escaped Shipwreck Descending With their total Fleet of Three hundred sail On Panormus The most important city In the Carthaginian province They undertook Its siege They threw Up works in two places And after Making the Other necessary Preparations Brought up their battering rams The tower on the seashore Was easily knocked down And the soldiers Pressing in through this breach The so called New town was stormed And the part known as The old town Being now in imminent danger Its inhabitants surrendered it Having taken Possession of it The consuls sailed back to Rome Leaving a garrison In the town End of chapter Thirty eight Chapter thirty nine Their successors Gnaeus Servilius And Gaius Sempronius Two Fifty three BC Put to sea with their whole fleet As soon as it was summer And after crossing to Sicily Proceeded thence to Africa And sailing along the coast, made a number of descents in which they accomplished nothing of importance.

And finally reached the isle of the Lotos-eaters, which is called Menax and is not far distant from the Lesser Syrtis.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery, and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24 End of section 2 Section 3 of the Histories of Polybius, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording.

Encountering the Carthaginian fleet near the Hermaeum, they fell on them and easily routed them, capturing one hundred and fourteen ships with their crews.

Then having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina, when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Kamarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24 End of section 2 Section 3 of The Histories of Polybius, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording.

The island contained many important cities, most of which were of Greek origin.

Among these were Syracuse, Agrigentum, Messana, Catana, Camarina, Gela, Selinus, Egesta or Segesta, Panormus, Leontini, and Enna.

There are many mountains, the chief of which is Etna.

Sardinia is nearly as large as Sicily.

This city they took by assault, and they also took Metistratum, which withstood the siege for long owing to its strong situation.

They then occupied Camarina, which had lately deserted their cause, bringing up a siege battery, and making a breach in the wall.

They similarly took Enna and several other small places belonging to the Carthaginians, and when they had finished with these operations, they undertook the siege of Lipara.

End of chapter 24.

Encountering the Carthaginian fleet near the Hermaeum, they fell on them and easily routed them, capturing one hundred and fourteen ships with their crews.

Then, having taken on board at Aspis the lads who remained in Africa, they set sail again for Sicily.

End of chapter 36 Chapter 37 They had crossed the strait in safety and were off the territory of Camarina, when they were overtaken by so fierce a storm and so terrible a disaster that it is difficult adequately to describe it owing to its surpassing magnitude.

For of their three hundred and sixty-four ships only eighty were saved, the rest either foundered or were dashed by the waves against the rocks and headlands and broken to pieces, covering the shore with corpses and wreckage.

The island contained many important cities, most of which were of Greek origin.

Among these were Syracuse, Agrigentum, Messana, Catana, Camarina, Gela, Selinus, Egesta or Segesta, Panormus, Leontini, and Enna.

There are many mountains, the chief of which is Etna.

Sardinia is nearly as large as Sicily.