a mercenary band of soldiers which passed from Campania into Sicily at the request of Agathocles. When they were in the service of Agathocles, they claimed the privilege of voting at the election of magistrates at Syracuse, and had recourse to arms to support their unlawful demands. The sedition was appeased by the authority of some leading men, and the Campanians were ordered to leave Sicily. In their way to the coast they were received with great kindness by the people of Messina, and soon returned perished for hospitality. They conspired against the inhabitants, murdered all the males in the city, married their wives and daughters, and rendered themselves masters of the place. After this violence they assumed the name of Mamertini, and called their city Mamertum, or Mamertium, from a provincial word which in their language signified martial or warlike. The Mamertines were afterwards defeated by Hiero, and totally disabled to repair their ruined affairs.

MAMMÆ, in anatomy. See there, n° 112.