IIIMEIZA, a city on the n. coast of Sicily, founded 648 B.C. by Carthaginians and exiles from Syracuse, who imparted a Doric character to the language. Earlyiu the 5th e., the tyrant Teriilus, being expelled by Theron of Agrige»tum, invoked the aid of the Carthaginians. They gladly availed themselves of the pretext, but their general, Ilamilear, was defeated at Himera by the Greeks under Gelon of Syracuse, 480 ti.c. Thrasydteus. sou of Theron, brought a large body of Doric emigrants to the city in 476; but was soon expelled by flier°. nimera seems to have enjoyed great prosperity during the remainder of the 5th century. In 415 it refused admittance to the Athenian fleet, and remained a zealous ally of Syracuse. In 408 the Carthaginians sent another great army under Hannibal, grandson of Hamilcar, who razed the city to the ground. A new city, Therinte Himerenses, was founded in 407 close to the former site. The mane was
derived from the famous hot springs in which Hercules was said to have bathed. The new city remained in Carthaginian hands until it was annexed by the Romans, during the second Punic war. It was peculiarly favored by them, and was left a free city under its own laws. In the time of Cicero it was a flourishing town, though not very large. Under Augustus it became a colony. From that time little is known of it, although the site was never deserted, and the town still exists under the name of Termini. Ergotetes, an Olympian victor celebrated by Piudar, was a citizen of Himera. Stesi chorus the poet was a native of the city; and his statue was preserved at Then= in the time of Cicero. Agathocles also was a native of Thertme.