Battle of Catana (397 BC)

Battle of Catana (397 BC)
Part of The Sicilian Wars

Punic Victory at Catana 397 BC. Political boundaries and path of troop movement are inexact because of lack of primary source data. Source map created by Marco Prins-Jona Lendering
DateSummer 397 BC
Location
Result Carthaginian victory
Belligerents
Carthage Syracuse
Sicilian Greeks
Commanders and leaders
Mago Leptines of Syracuse
Strength
200 Triremes
300 Transports
180 ships, mostly Quinqueremes
Casualties and losses
Light 100 ships sunk/captured
20,000 sailors drowned/captured

The Battle of Catana took place in the summer of 397 BC. The Greek fleet under Leptines, the brother of Dionysius I of Syracuse, engaged the Carthaginian fleet under Mago near the city of Catana in Sicily. While the Greek army under Dionysius was present near the city of Catana during the battle, the Carthaginian army under Himilco was away in the interior of Sicily, making a detour around the erupting Mount Etna. The Carthaginian fleet crushed the Greek fleet in the battle, leading to the Carthaginian siege of Syracuse later in 397 BC.