Messana/ Zankle

Greek ZANKLE, Latin MESSANA, capital of Messina provincia, in the extreme northeastern Sicily, Italy. It lies on the lower slopes of the Peloritani Mountains, on the Strait of Messina opposite Reggio di Calabria.

730-725 BC It was an ancient Siculan colony, first mentioned about 730 BC, founded by settlers from Chalcis (Ionic Greece), who called it Zankle ("Sickle"), from the shape of the harbour.

494-493 BC In the early 5th century BC it was occupied by Greek fugitives from Persian-occupied Miletus and Samos. The fugitives were assisted by Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegium (Reggio di Calabria), who then ruled over Rhegium and Zankle, the name of which he changed to Messene in honour of his native region of Messenia in the Peloponnese.