
Sicily, Gela
Circa 420-405 BCE
AE Tetras or Trionkion 3.60g, 17mm
Obv: ΓΕΛΑΣ, Bull standing right; barley grain above; three pellets (mark of value) in exergue.
Rev: head of river god right; barley grain behind.
Jenkins, Gela, Group IX; HGC 2, 379
Gela was founded in 668 BCE by colonists from Crete and Rhodes, and was named after the neighboring river. It was destroyed in 282 BCE by Phintias of Akragas. A small Roman settlement was eventually placed there, but the city never regained anywhere near its original grandeur.
Ruins of the baths and acropolis remain, though are very worn.
Gela is founded by settlers from Rhodes and Crete.
Leontini becomes subject to Gela
Death of Hippokrates, tyrant of Gela.
The tyrant Gelon of Gela conquers Syracuse.
Kamarina destroyed by Gela
Death of Gelon of Gela. The tyrant Hieron then moves to Syracuse.
Kamarina refounded by Gela
Death of the playwright Aeschylus in Gela.
Gela allies with Syracuse in the Sicilian wars.
Kamarina and Gela conclude an armistice
The Peace of Gela is signed, ending the Sicilian Wars.
Gela is sacked by Carthage.
Timoleon rebuilds the walls of Gela.
Carthage conquers Gela with little resistance.
Phintias of Akragas destroys Gela.