The city of Syracuse is located on the east coast of Sicily and was originally a Greek colony founded by Corinth in 734 BCE. The city enjoyed a period of expansion and prosperity under the tyrant Gelon in the 5th century BCE, survived a two year siege by Athenian forces from 415 to 413 BCE, and again prospered under the tyrant Dionysius in the 4th century BCE when the city controlled much of Sicily and large portions of southern Italy.
A very powerful city-state, Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth and exerted influence over the entirety of Magna Graecia, of which it was the most important city. Described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", it equaled Athens in size during the fifth century BC. It later became part of the Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire.
A very powerful city-state, Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth and exerted influence over the entirety of Magna Graecia, of which it was the most important city. Described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", it equaled Athens in size during the fifth century BC. It later became part of the Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire.
Gelon was a 5th-century BC ruler of Gela and Syracuse and first of the Deinomenid rulers.
Originally a priest, Gelon fought in a number of the conflicts on Sicily and earned a reputation as a formidable soldier - and became commander of the cavalry for Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela.
In 491 BC Gelon seized power in Gela with the help of the army - and in 485 BC he conquered Syr...
Originally a priest, Gelon fought in a number of the conflicts on Sicily and earned a reputation as a formidable soldier - and became commander of the cavalry for Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela.
In 491 BC Gelon seized power in Gela with the help of the army - and in 485 BC he conquered Syr...
Hieron I was the son of Deinomenes, the brother of Gelon, and tyrant of Syracuse in Sicily from 478 to 467 BC.
During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse. He removed the inhabitants of Naxos and Catana to Leontini, peopled Catana (which he renamed Aetna) with Dorians, concluded an alliance with Acragas (Agrigentum) and supported the cause of the Locrians against Anaxil...
During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse. He removed the inhabitants of Naxos and Catana to Leontini, peopled Catana (which he renamed Aetna) with Dorians, concluded an alliance with Acragas (Agrigentum) and supported the cause of the Locrians against Anaxil...
Dionysius was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse. He conquered several cities in Sicily and southern Italy, opposed Carthage's influence in Sicily and made Syracuse the most powerful of the Western Greek colonies. He was regarded by the ancients as an example of the worst kind of despot—cruel, suspicious and vindictive.
Dionysius began his working life as a clerk in a public office. Because of ...
Dionysius began his working life as a clerk in a public office. Because of ...
Dionysios II was a Greek politician who ruled Syracuse, Sicily from 367 BC to 357 BC and again from 346 BC to 344 BC.
When his father died in 367 BC, Dionysius, who was under thirty years old and completely inexperienced in public affairs, inherited the supreme power and began ruling under the supervision of his uncle, Dion, whose disapproval of the young Dionysius's lavishly dissolute ...
When his father died in 367 BC, Dionysius, who was under thirty years old and completely inexperienced in public affairs, inherited the supreme power and began ruling under the supervision of his uncle, Dion, whose disapproval of the young Dionysius's lavishly dissolute ...
Timoleon was a Greek statesman and general, who hailed from Corinth.
Because of the political problems facing Syracuse and the threat from Sparta, a group of Syracusans sent an appeal for help to Corinth which reached the city state in 344 BC. Timoleon was chosen by a unanimous vote to undertake the mission, and set sail for Sicily with seven ships, a few of the leading citizens of Cor...
Because of the political problems facing Syracuse and the threat from Sparta, a group of Syracusans sent an appeal for help to Corinth which reached the city state in 344 BC. Timoleon was chosen by a unanimous vote to undertake the mission, and set sail for Sicily with seven ships, a few of the leading citizens of Cor...
Agathocles was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse (317–289 BC) and king of Sicily (304–289 BC).
The son of a potter, he learned his father's trade, but afterwards entered the army along with his brother Antander. He was twice banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party in Syracuse.
In 317 BC he returned with an army of mercenaries under a solemn oath to observe the de...
The son of a potter, he learned his father's trade, but afterwards entered the army along with his brother Antander. He was twice banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party in Syracuse.
In 317 BC he returned with an army of mercenaries under a solemn oath to observe the de...
Hicetas was tyrant of Syracuse, during the interval between the reign of Agathocles and that of Pyrrhus.
We are told by Diodorus that he ruled nine years. The only events of his government that are recorded are a war with Phintias, tyrant of Agrigentum (modern Agrigento), in which he obtained a considerable victory, and one with the Carthaginians, by whom he was defeated at the river Te...
We are told by Diodorus that he ruled nine years. The only events of his government that are recorded are a war with Phintias, tyrant of Agrigentum (modern Agrigento), in which he obtained a considerable victory, and one with the Carthaginians, by whom he was defeated at the river Te...
Hieron II was the Tyrant of Syracuse from 270 to 215 BC, and claimed descent from Gelon. He was a former general of Pyrrhus of Epirus and an important figure of the First Punic War.
He rose to power on the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily (275 BC), where the Syracusan army and citizens appointed him commander of the troops.
In 263 he concluded a treaty with Rome, by which he...
He rose to power on the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily (275 BC), where the Syracusan army and citizens appointed him commander of the troops.
In 263 he concluded a treaty with Rome, by which he...
Gelon II was the eldest son of Hieron II, Tyrant of Syracuse.
Gelon died shortly before his father Hieron, at the age of more than 50 years. Not much is known concerning him, but he appears to have inherited the quiet and prudent character of his father. Polybius records to his praise that he sacrificed all objects of personal ambition to the duty of obedience and reverence to his paren...
Gelon died shortly before his father Hieron, at the age of more than 50 years. Not much is known concerning him, but he appears to have inherited the quiet and prudent character of his father. Polybius records to his praise that he sacrificed all objects of personal ambition to the duty of obedience and reverence to his paren...