Sicily. Tauromenion
317-275 BCE
AE 17.39mm 4.89g
Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo Archagetas right
Reverse: Forepart of bull butting left
cf. CNS 3 (bust left); Unpublished?
Ex Ellery Johnson Collection
Today, Tauromenion is world-famous for luring Americans through prominent positions in shows, notably the White Lotus. From the many hotel views, the Bay of Naxos can be seen. The first 400 years of this area were dominated by Naxos, but when it was destroyed, Tauromenion was eventually established in a more defensible area.
Although the city was occupied by the various powers, it seems to have mostly escaped calamities at their hands. Today, most of the ancient city no longer stands except for the famous theater, which has inspired actors and writers for well over a hundred years.
358 BCE
Tauromenion founded by exiles from nearby Naxos
345 BCE
Timoleon lands at Tauromenion
36 BCE
Tauromenion serves as a primary defense point for Sextus Pompey