garrison of Carthaginians under HANNO, The Romans, though the
Mamertines no longer needed their aid, landed at Messána and dislodged
the Carthaginians,

Thus opened the FIRST PUNIC WAR. The Romans at once formed a double
alliance with Syracuse and Messána, thus gaining control of the
eastern coast of Sicily and getting their first foothold outside of
Italy.

The most important inland city of Sicily was AGRIGENTUM. Here the
Carthaginians the next year (262) concentrated their forces under
HANNIBAL, son of Cisco. The Romans besieged the city, but were
themselves cut off from supplies by Hanno, who landed at Heracléa in
their rear. Both besieged and besiegers suffered much. At last a
battle was fought (262), in which the Romans were victorious, owing to
their superior infantry. Agrigentum fell, and only a few strongholds
on the coast were left to the Carthaginians.

The Romans now began to feel the need of a fleet. That of Carthage
ruled the sea without a rival: it notonly controlled many of the
seaports of Sicily, but also threatened Italy itself. With their usual
energy, the Romans began the work. [Footnote: In 259, three years
previous to the battle of Ecnomus, the Romans under Lucius Scipio
captured Blesia, a seaport of Corsica, and established there a naval
station.] A wrecked Carthaginian vessel was taken as a model, and by
the spring of 260 a navy of 120 sail was ready for sea.

The ships were made the more formidable by a heavy iron beak, for the
purpose of running down and sinking the enemy's vessels; a kind of
hanging stage was also placed on the prow of the ship, which could be