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Motya
Motya (Greek: ; Italian: Mozia or Mothia; Sicilian: Mozzia), was an ancient and powerful city on an island off the west coast of Sicily, between Drepanum (modern Trapani) and Lilybaeum (modern Marsala). The island was renamed ''San Pantaleo'' in the 11th century by Basilian monks. It lies in the Stagnone Lagoon, and is within the ''comune'' of Marsala.
The island is nearly 850 metres long and 750 metres wide, and about one km (six stadia) from the mainland of Sicily. It was joined to the mainland in ancient times by an artificial causeway (paved road), by which chariots with large wheels could reach the town.〔Diodorus xiv. 48.〕
==History==
The foundation of the city probably dates from the 8th century BCE, about a century after the foundation of Carthage in Tunisia. It was originally a colony of the Phoenicians, who were fond of choosing similar sites, and probably in the first instance merely a commercial station or emporium, but gradually rose to be a flourishing and important town. The Phoenicians transformed the inhospitable island, which they called ''Motya'', into one of the most affluent cities of its time, naturally defended by the lagoon as well as high defensive walls. Ancient windmills and salt pans were used for evaporation, salt grinding and refinement, and to maintain the condition of the lagoon and island itself. Recently the mills and salt pans (called the ''Ettore Infersa'') have been restored by the owners and opened to the public. The Greeks, however, according to their custom, assigned it a legendary origin, and derived its name from a woman named "Motya", whom they connected with the fables concerning Herakles.〔Stephanus of Byzantium ''s. v.''〕 According to coin-finds the name "Motya" is derived from Phoenician "Mtw" and is said to mean "wool-spinning center". It passed, in common with the other Phoenician settlements in Sicily, at a later period under the government or dependency of Carthage, whence Diodorus calls it a Carthaginian colony; but it is probable that this is not strictly correct.〔Thucydides vi. 2 ; Diod. xiv. 47.〕 As the Greek colonies in Sicily increased in numbers and importance the Phoenicians gradually abandoned their settlements in the immediate neighbourhood of the newcomers, and concentrated themselves in the three principal colonies of Solus, Panormus (modern Palermo), and Motya.〔Thuc. ''l. c.''〕 The last of these, from its proximity to Carthage and its opportune situation for communication with Africa, as well as the natural strength of its position, became one of the chief strongholds of the Carthaginians, as well as one of the most important of their commercial cities in the island.〔Diod. xiv. 47.〕 It appears to have held, in both these respects, the same position which was attained at a later period by Lilybaeum.
Notwithstanding these accounts of its early importance and flourishing condition, the name of Motya is rarely mentioned in history until just before the period of its memorable siege. It is first mentioned by Hecataeus,〔''ap.'' Steph. B. ''s. v.''.〕 and Thucydides notices it among the chief colonies of the Phoenicians in Sicily, which still subsisted at the period of the Athenian expedition, 415 BCE.〔Thuc. vi. 2.〕 A few years later (409 BCE) when the Carthaginian army under Hannibal Mago landed at the promontory of Lilybaeum, that general laid up his fleet for security in the gulf around Motya, while he advanced with his land forces along the coast to attack Selinus.〔Diod. xiii. 54, 61.〕 After the fall of the latter city, we are told that Hermocrates, the Syracusan exile, who had established himself on its ruins with a numerous band of followers, laid waste the territories of Motya and Panormus;〔''Id.'' xiii. 63.〕 and again during the second expedition of the Carthaginians under Hamilcar (407 BCE), these two cities became the permanent station of the Carthaginian fleet.〔''Id.'' xiii. 88.〕
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