Siege of Akragas ( 406 BC ) The Siege of Akragas took place in 406 BC in Sicily ; the Carthaginian enterprise ultimately lasted a total of eight months . The Carthaginian army under Hannibal Mago besieged the Dorian Greek city of Akragas in retaliation against Greek raids on Punic colonies in Sicily . The city had managed to repel Carthaginian attacks until a relief army from Syracuse defeated part of the besieging Carthaginian army and lifted the siege of the city . During the siege , Hannibal and a large number of Carthaginian soldiers had perished of plague , and the survivors were in dire straits after the Greeks managed to cut their supply lines . However , the Carthaginians , now led by Himilco , a Magonid kinsman of Hannibal , managed to capture a Greek supply convoy of ships using the Carthaginian fleet , which forced the Greeks to face the threat of starvation in turn . This caused first the Sicilian Greek detachment , then most of the population of Akragas to leave the city , enabling Himilco to capture and sack the city . Background . Carthage had stayed away from Sicilian affairs for almost seventy years following the defeat at Himera in 480 BC ; during the intervening time Greek culture had started to penetrate the Elymian , Sikanian and Sicel cities in Sicily . The Greek tyrannies of Syracuse and Akragas , which were responsible for the victory at Himera , had fallen apart by 460 BC and the Greeks had to fend off the challenge of Ducetius in addition infighting among themselves . The inactivity of Carthage regarding Sicily changed in 411 when the Ionian Greek ( former Elymian ) city Segesta clashed with the Dorian Greek city Selinus and got the worst of the conflict . Segesta then appealed to Carthage for aid . This appeal came at a time when the mainland Greek cities were locked in the Peloponnesian War , and Syracuse , an ally of Sparta , was not focused on Sicily . The Syracusan fleet was operating in the Aegean Sea , and Syracuse was in conflict with Naxos and Leontini , two Ionian Greek cities sympathetic to another Ionic city , Athens , the enemy of Sparta . The Carthaginian Senate , after some debate , agreed to intervene on behalf of Segesta . Carthage raised an army and fleet for the expedition in 410 BC and dispatched the force to Sicily afyer diplomatic efforts for a compromise between Selinus and Segesta had failed . Hannibal Mago of Carthage led the expedition , took the city of Selinus by storm in 409 and then also destroyed the city of Himera . Syracuse and Akragas , the leading Greek cities in Sicily , did not confront Carthage at that time , and the Carthaginian army withdrew with the spoils of war after garrisoning their territory in Western Sicily . For three years , a lull fell on Sicily . However , no treaties had been signed between the Greeks and Carthaginians to signal a closure of hostilities . Prelude to Akragas . While the governments of Syracuse and Akragas took only preventive measures , Hermocrates , an exiled general of Syracuse , sought to take a more aggressive stance on the issue of Carthaginian aggression , hoping that his actions would enable him to return to Syracuse and assume a political position . He hired 2 , 000 ( 1 , 000 former citizens of Himera ) mercenaries and five ships and then set up a base in the ruins of Selinus , building a wall for security around the acropolis . His force ultimately swelled to 6 , 000 men , ( many former citizens of Selinus had joined him ) and Hermocrates started to raid Punic territories at his discretion . He first defeated the men of Motya , then ravaged their land . His next target was the territory of " Golden Shell " , the land around Panormus . In 407 BC , the Greeks defeated the citizens of Panormus ( killing 500 of them ) and plundered at will , retiring to Selinus with their spoils . These activities gained Hermocrates fame and sympathy with Sicilian Greeks , but no recall from Syracuse . Hermocrates then collected the bones of the Greek dead left unburied at Himera and sent them over to Syracuse for burial , an act that further enhanced his reputation among the Greeks ( and brought about the downfall of Diocles , the Syracusan leader defeated at Himera and who actually left the bones unburied ) but did not end his exile from Syracuse . The general finally tried to stage a coup in Syracuse , where he died in a street fight . Syracuse and Akragas did not neglect their defenses during the activities of Hermocrates . Akragas , expecting to be the first target of any Carthaginian retaliation , set about expanding its army while Syracuse started to expand its fleet . The walls of both the cities were also kept in repair . Greek preparations . Syracuse and Akragas took speedy action to prepare for the expected Punic response after the downfall of Hermocrates . Syracuse appealed to the cities of Magna Graecia and even Sparta for help , while a general named Daphnaeus was elected to lead the Syracusan war effort . An officer named Dionysius , who had been a cohort of the fallen Hermocrates , was also elected as part of the army command staff . The Greeks started gathering an army at Syracuse which included Greeks from Camarina , Gela , Messene and Italy in addition to mercenaries , but Sparta was unable to send aid at this time . Akragas hired the Spartan general Dexippus with a band of 1 , 500 hoplite s and some Campanian mercenaries ( previously serving under Hannibal Mago at Himera ) to augment their force of 10 , 000 troops . Syracuse posted a fleet of forty triremes at Eryx to watch for the movement of the Punic navy . Carthage makes ready . The Carthaginian Senate had offered the command of the coming expedition to Hannibal Mago ( the “ Greek Hater ” ) , who at first refused the position pleading advanced age . However , when his kinsman Himilco was appointed as his deputy , Hannibal set about making preparations in earnest . Aside from Carthaginian citizens , troops were levied from Africa , Spain and Italy , so an army of 120 , 000 men ( probably exaggerated ~ 60 , 000 is closer to the truth ) and a fleet of 120 trireme s and 1 , 000 transports were made ready by the Spring of 406 BC . Carthage doubled the numbers of triremes ( only 60 triremes had escorted the expeditions of 480 and 409 ) because the Syracusan navy had returned from mainland Greece , and could pose a severe threat to the Carthaginian expedition . It was a prudent move which was to pay dividends shortly . Hannibal , before sailing with the main fleet , sent 40 triremes to Sicily , where these ships met the Greek fleet stationed at Eryx and lost fifteen of their number in a skirmish . The main Punic fleet then set sail , led by a vanguard of 50 triremes , while the rest sailed with the main fleet . The outnumbered Greek ships now gave way and the Punic expedition safely landed near Motya . Nature of Opposing Forces . The Libyans supplied both heavy and light infantry and formed the most disciplined units of the army . The heavy infantry fought in close formation , armed with long spears and round shields , wearing helmets and linen cuirasses . The light Libyan infantry carried javelins and a small shield , same as Iberian light infantry . The Iberian infantry wore purple bordered white tunics and leather headgear . The Heavy infantry fought in a dense phalanx , armed with heavy throwing spears , long body shields and short thrusting swords . Campanian , Sardinian and Gallic infantry fought in their native gear , but often were equipped by Carthage . Sicels and other Sicilians were equipped like Greek Hoplites . The Libyans , Carthaginian citizens and the Libyo - Phoenicians provided disciplined , well trained cavalry equipped with thrusting spears and round shields . Numidia provided superb light cavalry armed with bundles of javelins and riding without bridle or saddle . Iberians and Gauls also provided cavalry , which relied on the all out charge . Carthage at this time did not use elephants , but Libyans provided bulk of the heavy , four horse war chariots for Carthage . The Punic navy was built around the trireme , Carthaginian citizens usually served alongside recruits from Libya and other Carthaginian domains . Greek Forces . The mainstay of the Greek army was the Hoplite , drawn mainly from the citizens , but a large number of mercenaries from Italy and Greece as well . Sicels and other native Sicilians also served in the army as hoplites and also supplied peltasts , and a number of Campanians , probably equipped like Samnite or Etruscan warriors , were present as well . The Phalanx was the standard fighting formation of the army . The cavalry was recruited from wealthier citizens and hired mercenaries . In a siege situation , old men and women could serve as impromptu peltasts . Large Sicilian cities like Syracuse and Akragas could field up to 10 , 000 – 20 , 000 citizens , augmented by mercenaries or freed slaves whenever needed . There is no mention of an Akragan navy , but the relief force contained had 30 triremes . Siege of Akragas . The Carthaginian army was unopposed by the Greeks when they marched towards Akragas in the early summer of 406 BC . Hannibal left his warships at Motya before setting out for Akragas . The citizens of Akragas , not wanting to face the Carthaginians by themselves or contribute to their spoils , had gathered the harvest and the entire population ( some 200 , 000 people ) within the city as part of their preparations . Hannibal began preparation for the siege in earnest once his army reached Akragas . Two fortified camps were built , one camp ( protected by a ditch and a palisade ) on the western side of Akragas on the right bank of river Hypsas , the other on the left bank of the river Akragas , housing about a third of the army , on the east side of the city , blocking the roads to Gela . The Akragans did not oppose these activities , but stayed within their city . Hannibal offered terms to the city before commencing hostilities : Akragas could either become an ally of Carthage or stay neutral while Carthage dealt with the other Greeks in Sicily . Both conditions were rejected by the Akragan government . The entire male population of the city was armed and posted on the walls , the mercenaries were placed on the hill of Athena , ( some argue they were posted at the acropolis ) and some troops were placed as reserve to plug any gaps created by the Carthaginians on the city walls . After the final preparations were made , Greeks awaited the Carthaginian assault . Hannibal decided not to build circumventing walls but to starve the Greeks into submission . The position of the city on high ground made it difficult to assault directly or storm from several directions at once . Hannibal chose to use two siege tower s to assault one of the gates on the west side of the city . The Carthaginians managed to inflict casualties on the defenders but after an all - day struggle , could not force the gate . At night the Greeks made a sortie and burnt the towers down . Hannibal then ordered his soldiers to tear down the tombs and other buildings outside the walls to make siege ramps , so any part of the city wall could be assaulted by siege engines . The Punic soldiers were uneasy about desecrating tombs , and they panicked when a plague broke out in the Carthaginian camps . The Carthaginians lost many men , including Hannibal himself . The siege fails . Himilco now assumed command of the Punic army . His first duty was to restore the morale of his soldiers , which he did by sacrificing a child to the god the Greeks associated with Cronos and some animals to the sea by drowning them , after putting a stop to the tomb - destroying activities . Then he continued building siege ramps using the materials already collected and also dammed the Hypsas River , ( the course of which made it act as a moat for Akragas ) , for gaining better access to the city . At this point Daphnaeus of Syracuse arrived with 30 , 000 hoplites and 5 , 000 cavalry to break the siege , accompanied by thirty triremes . The Greek army may have been larger as light troops are not included in the tally . Himilco led the mercenaries in the eastern camp to intercept this army , while the main army stayed in their camp and kept the garrison of Akragas in check . A battle was joined somewhere on the right bank of the River Himera ( the actual battle site is unidentified and subject to debate ) . The Punic army at first managed to create difficulties for the Italian Greeks stationed on the left of the Greek battle line , but the Syracusan right wing scattered their Punic counterparts before the Carthaginians gained any decisive advantage . The Greeks ultimately managed to defeat the Carthaginians in a hotly contested battle . The Punic army fled the field leaving almost 6 , 000 dead behind . Daphnaeus chose to regroup his soldiers before giving chase . As the fleeing Carthaginians retreated past Akragas , the city dwellers clamored to be led out to attack the enemy , which their generals ( including the Spartan Dexippus ) , refused to do , fearing a repeat of the Himera debacle of 409 BC . However , the victory of the Syracusan - led army , which had not pursued the retreating Carthaginians also fearing a counterattack , had lifted the siege of the city , and the eastern camp of the Carthaginian army had fallen into Greek hands . This positioned the Greeks favorable against the Punic army , with the initiative firmly in their hands . Conspiracy theories and consequences . The Akragan citizens joined the relief army at the captured Punic camp , and at once gossip spread among the Greeks that the Akragan generals had refused to attack the Carthaginian fugitives because they had been bribed by Himilco . An impromptu political council was held , and the Greeks of Camarina openly accused the five Akragan generals of treason , and four of the generals were stoned to death as a result . The fifth , named Argeus , was spared because of his youth . New officers were then elected to replace the lynched Generals . Daphnaeus , in overall command of the Greek army , scouted the main Carthaginian camp , and decided against a direct assault . The Greeks instead harassed the Carthaginians throughout the summer with light troops and cavalry , cutting off their supply lines and continuously skirmishing . The Greek army at Akragas was kept supplied by huge ship convoys carrying provisions from Syracuse . The Carthaginians soon faced food shortages , and the mercenaries began to grow restless as starvation set in the Punic camp . Himilco managed to keep the army together with difficulty . As winter approached , the situation grew from serious to desperate for the Carthaginians . Himilco triumphs . Himilco was saved from dealing with a mutiny by good fortune and prompt action . Just when the mercenaries had reached their breaking point , Carthaginians learned of the approach of a supply convoy from Syracuse . Himilco managed to convince the mercenaries to stay put for a few more days , by giving them the gold / silver drinking cups of the Carthaginian citizens , then sent word to the Carthaginian fleet to sortie from Motya / Panormus . The Carthaginian fleet of forty ships arrived from the West , and managed to surprise the escorting Syracusan fleet , which may have grown complacent due to their command of the sea , and sank eight Greek triremes escorting the grain ships . When the surviving Greek triremes beached themselves , the Carthaginian flotilla captured the entire convoy . This solved the supply problems for Himilco , and caused the Greeks in turn to face the threat of starvation . The Greeks fall apart . The capture of the convoy caused rumors of impending food shortage at Akragas , where the population may not have planted any crops because of the ongoing conflict . Himilco secretly bribed the Campanian mercenaries , who deserted Akragas after complaining of food shortages . When the Akragan authorities found the remaining stocks of food inadequate to feed the whole Greek army , the Greek contingent from Magna Graecia also left Akragas . The rapidly dwindling food stocks persuaded the Akragan authorities to abandon the city . In mid - December , 40 , 000 people along with the army , marched east for Gela , carrying whatever valuables they could out of the city . The sick , the old and some diehards stayed behind in Akragas . Himilco had little difficulty taking and pillaging the nearly empty city the following morning , putting to sword any who resisted . The siege had lasted for eight months . Aftermath . As winter had set in , Himilco did not push onto Gela but encamped at Akragas . The city , the richest in Sicily , was thoroughly plundered , and many priceless pieces of art were shipped to Carthage . The Carthaginian army would stay in the city until the spring of 405 , when the campaign for Gela took place . Himilco would demolish the city before marching east . The refugees of Akragas accused Daphnaeus and the other generals of treason in Syracuse . This caused a great upheaval which ultimately brought Dionysius I of Syracuse to the role of supreme commander , which he ultimately turned into a dictatorship . The city of Akragas , destroyed in 405 BC , would again be populated by Greeks , although it would not reach the level of wealth and power it had previously enjoyed . It would grow powerful enough to oppose both Carthage and Syracuse in the struggle these cities would engage in for the next hundred years . During the Punic wars , it would ironically suffer a Roman siege as a base of the Carthaginian army , which would be commanded by another Hannibal .