The Battle of Catana took place in the summer of 397 BC during the Sicilian Wars between Carthage and Syracuse. The Greek fleet, commanded by Leptines (the brother of Dionysius I of Syracuse), engaged the Carthaginian fleet under the admiral Mago near the city of Catana on the eastern coast of Sicily. The battle resulted in a decisive Carthaginian victory, which paved the way for the subsequent Carthaginian siege of Syracuse later that same year.
Background
Following the peace treaty of 405 BC, which ended the earlier phase of the Sicilian Wars and left Carthage in control of roughly three-fifths of Sicily, Dionysius I consolidated his power in Syracuse. Between 405 and 398 BC, he fortified the city, expanded his fleet with new ship types such as the quinquereme, developed new weapons including the catapult, and hired mercenaries. In 398 BC, Dionysius attacked the Phoenician city of Motya in western Sicily. After a difficult siege, Motya was captured and sacked. In response, Carthage raised a new expeditionary force under Himilco, who was elected king (suffete) by the Carthaginians.
Himilco led an army of approximately 50,000 men and a fleet of 300 triremes and 600 transports to Sicily. After landing at Panormus (modern Palermo), the Carthaginians recaptured Eryx and Motya, lifted the siege of Segesta, and forced Dionysius to withdraw to Syracuse. Himilco then sailed to Lipara, collected tribute, and proceeded to Cape Pelorum, where his army landed. The city of Messene was captured and sacked by a naval assault. Himilco subsequently founded the city of Tauromenium (modern Taormina) on Mount Taurus, settling it with allied Sicels, which helped secure his rear and further alienated Sicel allies from Dionysius.
Prelude
As Himilco marched south along the coast of Sicily, a severe eruption of Mount Etna made the coastal path north of Naxos impassable. Himilco was forced to divide his forces: the Carthaginian army marched inland to detour around the volcano, while the fleet under Mago sailed along the coast toward Catana, where the two forces were to reunite.
Meanwhile, Dionysius strengthened his position by freeing slaves in Syracuse to man 60 additional ships, provisioning the fortresses at Syracuse and Leontini, and hiring 1,000 mercenaries from Greece. He also relocated Campanian mercenaries from Catana to Aetna. Learning that Himilco's army had been forced inland by the eruption and that the Punic fleet was sailing for Catana, Dionysius marched his army and fleet to Catana to engage the Carthaginians before their forces could reunite. The Greek army numbered approximately 30,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, while the fleet consisted of about 180 ships, mostly quinqueremes.
Opposing Forces
The Carthaginian fleet under Mago comprised approximately 200 triremes and 300 transports, the latter having been fitted with rams to increase their combat capability. The Greek fleet under Leptines consisted of about 180 warships, predominantly the larger and heavier quinqueremes, which carried more marines and missile troops than their Carthaginian counterparts.
The Battle
When the Greek fleet arrived at Catana, Leptines marshaled his ships and advanced on the Carthaginians. Dionysius had ordered Leptines to keep his ships in close formation to maximize the advantage of their heavier construction and larger contingent of missile troops. Mago ordered his fleet to sea and began forming a battle line.
Leptines selected 30 of his best ships and charged headlong into the Carthaginian line, while the rest of the Greek fleet struggled to keep pace. Initially, Leptines achieved success, disabling or sinking several Punic ships. However, the Carthaginians used their numerical advantage to grapple the Greek ships, preventing them from maneuvering, and then boarded them. Leptines was forced to break off and escape to open sea with the survivors of his contingent, leaving the main Greek fleet leaderless.
As the remainder of the Greek fleet arrived in disorder, the Carthaginians, already formed and ready, attacked en masse. A fierce battle ensued, but the Greeks were ultimately overwhelmed. Their heavier ships and superior missile troops were of limited use due to their disordered formation. The Carthaginians sent out boats to capture or kill Greek sailors in the water. The Greeks lost over 100 ships and approximately 20,000 soldiers and rowers before the surviving ships could flee.
Aftermath
The defeat placed Dionysius in a difficult strategic position. With the Greek fleet beaten, Mago gained the option of attacking Syracuse directly. Dionysius initially considered seeking battle with Himilco's approaching army, but his advisers warned that Mago's fleet could capture Syracuse in his absence. Dionysius decided to break camp and march south to Syracuse to prepare for a siege. This decision proved unpopular among his Sicilian Greek allies, who deserted the army and returned to their respective cities.
Himilco arrived at Catana two days after the battle with the Carthaginian army, ensuring the security of the Punic fleet. Mago repaired his damaged ships and refitted captured Greek vessels. The victory at Catana significantly reduced Syracusan naval power, diminished the strength of the Greek army by causing allied desertions, and enabled the Carthaginians to proceed with the siege of Syracuse later in 397 BC.
