Cults Myths and Legends of Ancient Sicily
7.3 Nymphs and river gods: Imera
Imera was probably a nymph, personification of the river Imera who linked her name to the city of the same name (today's Termini Imerese). His cult would find confirmation in Cicero's story[1], according to which the governor Verre was unable to steal a group of statues from the town of Imera, previously looted by the Carthaginians following the destruction of Imera in 409 BC. The statues were returned to the Imeresi by Publius Scipio, after the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. Among these statues, that of Imera stood out for its beauty. Some coins would confirm the cult of this deity. In a silver coin of Imera, the nymph who makes sacrifices in a sanctuary appears, in another the following are depicted: the sanctuary, the jet of the spring, a satyr and a sacrificing nymph, most likely the same Hymera[2]
[1] Cicero: Verrine lib. II 87,88
[2] Biagio Pace: Art and Civilization of Ancient Sicily. Volume III page 481.
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Cults Myths and Legends of Ancient Sicily by Ignazio Caloggero
Hymera