Gela (Greek: Ghélas), in southern Sicily, was a Greek colony founded c. 689 BCE and it remained an important cultural centre throughout antiquity. Prospering on trade and expanding its territory, the city-state founded Agrigento. In the 5th century BCE the tyrant Gelon reigned with success but the end of that century brought attacks and destruction by Carthage. The city revived thanks to the Corinthian general Timoleon but was destroyed in 282 BCE by Phintias, ironically the tyrant of Agrigento.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 689 BCERhodes and Cretans found Gela in Sicily.
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c. 580 BCEAgrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
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491 BCE - 478 BCEReign of Gelon, tyrant of Gela on Sicily.
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456 BCEAeschylus dies in Gela, Sicily.
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406 BCEA Carthaginian army sacks Gela on Sicily.
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339 BCEGela on Sicily is rebuilt by the Corinthian general Timoleon.
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282 BCEGela, on Sicily, is destroyed by Phintias, the tyrant of Agrigento.
