AMESTRATA, a town of Sicily, (Cicero); Ame-
strator, (Stephanus); Amastira, (Silius Italicus); Multistrator, (Polybius); now Mistratta, in the Val di Demona, on the river Halefus; a very strong fort of the Carthaginians, besieged in vain by the Romans for seven months with considerable loss; at length, after another siege, taken and rased, (Diodor. Siculus.) The appellation is Phœnician, according to Bochart, Math-Astrata, and Am-Astrata, the city and people of the goddess Astrate. The inhabitants are called by Cicero Amestratini, and Mustratini by Pliny.