Editing Termini Imerese (section)

===Ancient history===
The site of the town has been populated since prehistoric times, as many archaeological excavations have shown through the years. Its documented history begins in 409 BC after the [[Battle of Himera (409 BC)|second Battle of Himera]] when its more ancient neighbour, [[Himera]] (now completely within the ''comune''{{'}}s borders), was completely destroyed by the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] army under [[Hannibal Mago]]. Those who survived the devastation moved to a site then called "Thermae" which is today known as Termini and became the successor to Himera. The new town of Thermae or Therma, called for the sake of distinction Thermae Himerenses, obviously derived its name from the hot springs for which it was celebrated, and the discovery of which was connected by legends with the wanderings of [[Hercules]].<ref>Diod. iv. 23, v. 3; [[Pindar|Pind.]] ''Ol.'' xii. 28.</ref> It appears to have quickly become a considerable town, though it continued to be subject to Carthaginian rule.

In the [[First Punic War]] its name is repeatedly mentioned. In 260 BC, a body of [[ancient Rome|Roman]] troops was encamped in the neighbourhood when they were attacked by [[Hamilcar]] and defeated with heavy loss.<ref>Pol. i. 24; Diod. xxiii. 9. Exc. H. p.&nbsp;503.</ref>

====Roman age====
Before the close of the First Punic War (241 BC), Thermae was besieged and taken by the Romans<ref>Pol. i. 39; Diod. xxiii. 20. Exc. H. p.&nbsp;506.</ref> but the city seems to have been treated with unusual favour by its conquerors. [[Cicero]] tells us that the Romans allowed the Thermitani to govern their city and territory with their own laws as a reward for their steady fidelity.<ref>Cic. ''Verr.'' ii: 37</ref> As they were on hostile terms with Rome during the First Punic War, it can only be to the subsequent period that this "fidelity" applies.

In the time of Cicero (80-40 BC), Thermae appears to have been a flourishing place, carrying on a considerable amount of trade, though he speaks of it as ''oppidum non maximum''.<ref>''Id.'' ii. 46, 75, iii. 42.</ref> He  attested the magnificence of the ancient city and the taste of its citizens for the encouragement of art,  calling it ''in primis Siciliae clarum et ornatum'' as statues were preserved by the Thermitani to whom they had been restored by Scipio after the conquest of Carthage.<ref>Cic. ''Verr.'' ii. 3. 5</ref>

It seems to have become a [[Colonia (Roman)|colony]] in the time of [[Augustus]] (27 BC – 14 AD), whence we find mention in inscriptions of the ''Ordo et Populus splendidissimae Coloniae Augustae Himeraeorum Thermitanorum''.<ref>Castell. ''Inscr. Sicil.'' p.&nbsp;47; Gruter. ''Inscr.'' p.&nbsp;433, no. 6.</ref> Thermae ''colonia'' is mentioned by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] and must refer to this town, though he seems to confuse it with Thermae Selinuntiae (modern [[Sciacca]]) on the south coast which was not a ''colony''.<ref>Plin. iii. 8. s. 14.</ref>

There are few subsequent accounts of Thermae; but, as its name is found in [[Ptolemy]] and the Itineraries, and from the impressive aqueduct and some other remains it appears to have continued in existence throughout the period of the [[Roman Empire]], and probably never ceased to be inhabited, as the modern town of Termini Imerese retains the ancient site as well as name.<ref>Ptol. iii. 4. § 4; [[Antonine Itinerary|Itin. Ant.]] p.&nbsp;92; [[Tabula Peutingeriana]]</ref>