Catane
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Catane: (Katane. mod. Catania). A major city of ancient Sicily, situated on the east coast of the island at the foot of Mt. Aetna. It was founded in 730 BC by Chalcidian Greeks from nearby Naxos. In 476 BC, the city was captured by Hieron I of Syracuse, who transported the inhabitants to Leontini. A new population was settled in the city consisting of 5,000 Syracusans and 5,000 Peloponnesians. The city’s name was also changed to Aetna. Not long after Hieron’s death in 467 BC, the original inhabitants returned and restored the former name to the city. Catana came under Syracusan control again during the reign of Dionysius I but soon regained its independence under its own tyrants. Agathocles conquered it when he took power in Syracuse, and it remained under Syracusan control until it was taken by the Romans during the 1st Punic War. Augustus placed a veteran colony there. The origin of the city’s name is disputed. Some sources state that it derives from an ancient Sikel word meaning “bowl.” This was inspired by the hills which encompass the ancient site. Others believe that the root-word is the Phoenician qaton (= “little”), referring to its size in comparison to nearby Syracuse.