Hippana

Hippana or Hyppana (Ancient Greek: ), was an ancient town of Sicily. It sat astride the main road from Panormus (modern Palermo) to Agrigentum (modern Agrigento) upon Monte dei Cavalli, in the modern ''comune'' of Prizzi. It is an important archaeological site in situated in a central position between the Tyrrhenian coast and the Mediterranean Sea, halfway between Palermo and Agrigentum.

It was mentioned by Polybius as being taken by assault by the Romans in the First Punic War, 260 BC. Diodorus, in relating the events of the same campaign, mentions the capture of a town called "Sittana", for which we should in all probability read "Hippana". The correctness of the name found in Polybius is confirmed by Stephanus of Byzantium (''s. v.'') who, however, writes it but cites Polybius as his authority.

Some manuscripts of Pliny mention the name of ''Ipanenses'' in his list of Sicilian towns where the older editions have ''Ichanenses''. If this reading be adopted, it in all probability refers to the same place as the Hippana of Polybius; but as the reading Ichanenses is also supported by the authority of Stephanus (who notices Ichana as a town of Sicily), the point must be considered doubtful.

Excavations in 2007 at Montagna dei Cavalli revealed a Greek theatre, one of the earliest known in Sicily and Magna Graecia. It dates to the second half of the 4th century BC and was destroyed in 258 BC, the year of the sacking of the city by the Romans in the first Punic war.

History

Sican period

Archaeological evidence suggests that an indigenous settlement was present at Montagna dei Cavalli from the 9th century BC. The settlement was certainly flourishing between the 7th and 6th centuries BC and was probably inhabited by Sicans attracted by the favourable setting, with clear defensive capabilities, conditions suitable for agriculture and pastoralism, and several sources of water. The first village probably developed on the highest part of the mountain and along its flanks. The few archaeological discoveries from this phase are a scatter of local ceramics, found in most parts of the settlement. The Sican communities reacted to the foundation of the Greek colonies on the coast (Himera, Selinus, and Acragas) by consolidating ever more in the interior. Cultural and economic links between the various communities developed, which very likely allowed the settlement to flourish in the first decades of the 5th century BC. Such relationships are attested at Montagna dei Cavalli by the discovery of vases imported from the Greek colonies, datable to the first half of the 6th century BC. Alongside the Greek products, indigenous ceramics also circulated, characterised by painted or incised geometric decoration.

From the beginning of the 5th century BC it is difficult to reconstruct the fate of the settlement, but it seems that after a period of relative prosperity, the old indigenous city sunk into a serious crisis, probably culminating in its abandonment.

Hellenistic period

The late fourth century BC was a period of urban renewal and prosperity for Sicily and it seems that a new city, which the sources call Hippana, grew up at Montagna dei Cavalli in this period. It was within the Carthaginian sphere of influence. Between the end of the 4th century and the first decades of the 3rd century BC, the settlement was the site of a violent episode, perhaps connected with the invasions of western Sicily by Agathocles of Syracuse or Pyrrhus of Epirus, as shown by various renovations to the upper fortifications and some buildings on the acropolis. The prosperity of the city continued until the middle of the 3rd century BC, when there are signs of violent destruction in all parts of the site, which probably led to its abandonment.

This archaeological evidence is likely connected with the Roman conquest of Hippana in 258 BC, during the First Punic War, as mentioned by Polybius in his ''Histories'', according to whom the city was destroyed by Roman forces led by the consul Aulus Atilius Calatinus:

The same event seems to be mentioned by Diodorus Siculus, although he calls the city "Sittana",Diodorus ''Bibliotheca Historica'' 23.9.5 and by Stephanus of Byzantium, who derives his information from Polybius.

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Ancient cities in Sicily
Ruins in Italy
Former populated places in Italy
Archaeological sites in Sicily