History of Termini Imerese

In 252 BC the city was conquered by the Romans, who called it "Thermae Himeraeae" or "Thermae Himerenses", and where they built an aqueduct, the so-called "Cornelius’ Aqueduct”, which is still studied for its unique technical solutions implemented by Roman engineers (See, about the aqueduct, O. Belvedere,“L'Acquedotto Cornelio di Termini Imerese”,  Rome, 1986, vol. I).

In the Middle Ages Termini Imerese was a Bishopric and under the Normans it enjoyed various privileges. But we can say that Termini Imerese was particularly flourishing in the fourteenth century. For its very strategic  location, it was the seat of a military garrison, equipped with prisons, a hospital and especially by some great trades, because of a strong mercantile middle class, among which numerous Jewish communities.

In this period also had a significant importance the Franciscan monasteries, placed here in the thirteenth century and then reinforced in the fifteenth century. The town was economically very active,  and also had an artistic life of some importance, as is evidenced by the paintings of the museum and for the presence of interesting local artists such as Gaspare Pesaro (1414-1460 approx.), the brothers Graffeo, active between 1476 and 1511, and the sculptor and marble worker Giorgio di Milano (15th century), in contact with the School of Antonello Gagini [1478-1536] (on these issues, see E. Di Cesare, "Franciscans and social life in Termini Imerese in the fifteenth century," in “Francescanesimo e Civiltà Siciliana nel '400”, Palermo, 1992: 99-105).

Today Termini Imerese encompasses the Old Town located in the upper city  and the lower city, where, during the twentieth century, the automobile industry developed.

Etymology

According to G.B. Pellegrini Termini Imerese was known by several names, but very similar: "[...] ‘Thermai ai Ymerai’ (Polybius [200-118 BA]), ‘Thermai Ymarai’ (Ptolemy [90-168 AD]), ‘Therma’ (Diodorus [1st century BC]) and as “Thermae” from some classical Latin authors (Cicero 106-43 BC], "Verrine", II, 2, 90). As regard the term "Ymarai", it refers to the Latin name of the river "Himer," now called "Salso". Alessio derives the etymology of "Salso" (“salt water”) from the Greek "Almyros Potamòs", where "Almyros" means "salt water"  [...]"( See G.B. Pellegrini, "Italian toponymy" Hoepli, 1990: 80). How  explains the same G.B. Pellegrini, "Thermai" (Latin "Thermae"), means "hot baths" and "building of public baths” (See G.B. Pellegrini," Essays on Italian Language”, Boringhieri, 1975: 296). Instead, the term "Ymerai" refers to the ancient town of “Hymera”, a Greek colony founded in 648 BC on the northern coast of Sicily, on a hill about 100 meters above sea level. The site has since expanded towards the valley, from 480 BC.

According to the tradition, Imera was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409 BC, and then the same Carthaginians  would be built on a near site  the new town of “Thermai Himeraiai”. Therefore, as it is repeated again today, "In 409 BC the city was conquered and destroyed by the Carthaginians of Hannibal (247-182 BC), who deported the survivors to the nearby hot springs. Where shortly after (407) they founded ‘Thermai Himeraiai’ "(See A. Tullio, “Itinerari Archeologici in Sicilia”["Archaeological Tour in Sicily"], Flaccovio, 2002: 32). This is the situation of traditional studies. But things seem to be different. A very thorough investigation about the city is that of Professor A. Cutroni Tusa, who, while studying specifically the minting of coins of Imera, offers some very interesting historical notations made in the light of recent studies, which allow to overcome the traditional positions.

She therefore considers that the archaeological investigations have shown that even before the destruction by the Carthaginians, Imera suffered a prior disaster because of an earthquake. However, the event which put an end to the growing "Himera" was the attack of the Carthaginians, as told by Diodorus Siculus, who said that Hannibal destroyed the city, sacked it, and  raze the temples  to the ground. Some survivors made their way to Selinunte and others settled in the nearby “Therma”, “polin en te Sikelìa” (" city of Sicily "). Therefore "Therma" was not founded by fugitives from Imera. Indeed, Stephen of Byzantium (6th century AD) said this site already existed when  the survivors of "Himera" came here, because it is mentioned from 480 BC. Therefore, the exiles of Himera would settled here, giving the city its name. It would be called, well, "Thermai Ymarai", "transformed from a ‘Korìon’ "[‘village’] in a politically organized state structure." More precisely, "Therma" was called "Therma Korìon Sikelia" ["Therma village in Sicily"].  Diodorus Siculus also explained the meaning of the term "Thermae", so named because it was located "pros tois autois thermois ydasi", or because "Korìon" was close to the hot springs.

After its foundation, "Thermae" was incorporated into the Cathaginian "epikrateia" [or the "territory under the control of Carthage"], and it continued to mint bronze coins in large quantities and of considerable interest (See A. Cutroni Tusa, “Himera tra realtà e immaginazione”, in “Archeologia del Mediterraneo Studi in onore di Ernesto De Miro”, Rome, 2003: 226, 230 and note 29).