Motya
(
Μοτύη). An ancient town in the northwest of Sicily,
situated on a small island (now S. Pantaleo) near the coast, with which it was connected by a
mole. It was founded by the Phœnicians, and next belonged to the Carthaginians, who
transferred its inhabitants to the town of Lilybaeum, B.C. 397 (
Thuc.vi.
2).