HALAESA, an ancient town on the north coast of Sicily, about 14 m. E. of Cephaloedium (Cefalu), to the east of the modern Castel di Tusa, founded in 403 B.C. by Archonides, tyrant of Herbita, whose name it sometimes bore. It was the first town to surrender to the Romans in the First Punic War and was granted freedom and immunity from tithe. It became a Roman port of some importance. (T. A.)