Messāna

Messāna (modern Messina), on the north-east tip of Sicily opposite the toe of Italy, founded as Zanclē by Euboean colonists c.730 BC (Zancle itself colonizing Himera in 648). Later it received immigrants from Messenia in the Peloponnese who changed its name to Messēnē; the Doric form of this name, Messana, seems to have been used from the first half of the fifth century. See also MAMERTINES. After 241 BC Messana became a prosperous city in alliance with Rome. Compare MESSENE below.