MESSANA, in Ancient Geography, the first town of Sicily on crossing over from Italy, situated on the strait now called the Faro, (Italicus). Anciently called Zancla, according to Diodorus Siculus, from King Zanclus; or, according to others, from the Sicilian term Zanclon, denoting a sickle, alluding to the curvity of the coast; a name appropriated by the poets; and hence Zanclæi, the people, (Herodotus, Pausanias).
the other name Messana is from the Messenii of Peloponnesus, (Strabo). Thucydides ascribes its origin to Anaxilas the Messenian, tyrant of Rhegium, who received all comers, calling the town after the name of his country. The Greeks always call it Messene; the Romans Messena constantly, to distinguish it from Messene of Peloponnesus. Now MESSINA, lately ruined by earthquakes.