SicelCarthaginian

SicelCarthaginian refers to the complex relationship and interactions between the Sicels, an indigenous people of Sicily, and the Carthaginians, who established a significant presence on the island. Carthage, a Phoenician colony in North Africa, expanded its influence into the western Mediterranean, including Sicily, from the 6th century BCE onwards. This expansion brought them into contact with various Sicilian groups, most notably the Elymians and the Sicels, who inhabited the central and eastern parts of the island respectively.

The nature of the SicelCarthaginian relationship varied over time and by region. Initially, there may have been trade and some level of co-existence. However, as Carthaginian power grew, particularly in competition with Greek city-states like Syracuse, the relationship often became one of conflict. The Sicels, caught between the Carthaginian and Greek spheres of influence, sometimes allied with one power against the other, or attempted to maintain a degree of independence. Carthaginian military campaigns in Sicily frequently involved confronting or subjugating Sicilian populations. The presence of Carthaginian settlements, such as Motya, and their control over western Sicily, deeply impacted the political and social landscape of the island, influencing the fortunes of the Sicels and contributing to the broader Punic Wars.