Ἀδρανόν / Ἀδρανός | |
Location | Province of Catania |
---|---|
Region | Sicily |
Coordinates | 37°40′N 14°50′E / 37.667°N 14.833°E |
Type | Human settlement |
History | |
Founded | Neolithic, Greek colonization |
Site notes | |
Website | regione.sicilia.it (Museo di Adranon) |
Adranon (Ancient Greek: Ἀδρανόν)[1] or Adranos (Ancient Greek: Ἀδρανός),[2] present day Adrano, was an ancient polis[3] of Magna Graecia on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna, near Simeto River.
It was known for the "simetite" variety of amber.[4]
The ancient city was founded by the ancient Greek ruler Dionysius I of Syracuse around 400 BC[5] upon a pre-Hellenic neolithic settlement, near a temple dedicated to the god Adranus, worshiped throughout Sicily. Adranus was associated with volcanoes and equated eventually with Hephaestus.[6] The city was conquered by Timoleon at 343-342 BC[7] and subjugated to Rome in 263 BC.[8] Romans declared it a civitas stipendiaria (city that had to pay tribute to Rome).[9]