The Battle of Messana in 265-264 BC was the first military clash between the Roman Republic and Carthage. It marked the start of the First Punic War. In that period, and after the recent successes in southern Italy, Sicily became of increasing importance to Rome.
The Greek historian Polybius states in Book One of The Histories: "Even after long consideration, the (Roman) Senate did not approve the proposal to send help to Messana; they took the view that any advantage which would result from relieving the place would be counterbalanced by the inconsistency of such an action. However, the people who had suffered grievously from the wars that had just ended and were in dire need of rehabilitation of every kind, were inclined to listen to the consuls. These men, besides stressing the national advantages I have already mentioned which Rome could secure if she intervened, also dwelt on the great gains which would clearly accrue to every individual citizen from the spoils of war, and so a resolution for sending help was carried. When his decree had been passed by the people, one of the consuls, Appius Claudius, was appointed to command an expedition, and was given orders to cross to Messana." After this, the Mamertines forced the Punic garrison out of Messana and invited the Roman force into the city. The Carthaginians crucified the garrison commander, Hanno (not the son of Hannibal), on his return to Carthage for what was regarded as his cowardice and lack of judgement in leaving Messana.
Messina (Italian pronunciation: [mesˈsiːna] ( listen), Sicilian: Missina; Latin: Messana) is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province of Messina. It has a population of about 250,000 inhabitants in the city proper and about 650,000 in the province. It is located near the northeast corner of Sicily, at the Strait of Messina, just opposite Villa San Giovanni on the mainland.
The main economical resources of the city are: the port (commercial and military), provided with several shipyards; agriculture (including wine production and the cultivation of lemons, oranges, mandarin oranges and olives); tourism.
The city has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite seat since 1548 and is home to a locally important international fair.
Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC, Messina was originally called Zancle, from the Greek: ζάγκλον meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbour (though a legend attributes the name to King Zanclus). A comune of its province, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, is to this day called 'Scaletta Zanclea'. In the early 5th century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it Messene in honour of the Greek city Messene (Greek: Μεσσήνη). (See also List of traditional Greek place names.) The city was sacked in 397 BC by the Carthaginians and then reconquered by Dionysius I of Syracuse.
Mateo "Matt" Messina is an American soundtrack composer perhaps best known for working on the soundtrack to the 2007 film Juno.
Mateo Messina’s style of songwriting and composition has earned him accolades. He has received numerous film score awards, including the Festival Tous Courts in France for The Freak, One Reel Film Festival for Terra, ASCAP Awards, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Messina’s upcoming features include Stardust Pictures film L!fe Happens, premiering at the LA Film Festival June 14. He also reunites with Juno director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody on Young Adult, and the Weinstein Company’s Butter, starring Olivia Wilde, Hugh Jackman and Ashley Greene, both set for release late 2011.
Messina has also written music for a variety of commercials including, Nike, Microsoft, MTV, Honda, Pottery Barn, Volkswagen, Sony, Norelco, The North Face and Ford.
A Seattle native, Messina maintains residences in both his hometown and Los Angeles. The young philanthropist composes and produces an annual benefit concert with The Symphony Guild to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center. He begun a connection with the hospital over a decade ago when a co-worker's daughter died in the hospital. Entering its 14th year, Messina has raised over one million dollars for the hospital.