Dionysius I of Syracuse - Revision history

Irlandos: /* References */

2011-05-18T07:16:07Z

References

Irlandos: /* Conquests */

2011-05-17T20:35:16Z

Conquests

Irlandos at 08:15, May 17, 2011

2011-05-17T08:15:00Z

Irlandos: /* Death */

2011-05-17T08:09:54Z

Death

Irlandos at 08:02, May 17, 2011

2011-05-17T08:02:12Z

Irlandos at 07:59, May 17, 2011

2011-05-17T07:59:32Z

Irlandos at 07:58, May 17, 2011

2011-05-17T07:58:57Z

Irlandos: Created page with "'''Dionysius I''' or '''Dionysius the Elder''' (ca. 432- 367 BC, Greek Διονύσιος) was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse, S..."

2011-05-17T07:55:18Z

Created page with "'''Dionysius I''' or '''Dionysius the Elder''' (ca. 432- 367 BC, Greek Διονύσιος) was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse, S..."

New page

'''Dionysius I''' or '''[[Dionysius the Elder]]''' (ca. [[432 BC|432]]- [[367 BC]], [[Greek language|Greek]] Διονύσιος) was a [[Greeks|Greek]] tyrant of [[Syracuse]], Sicily. 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.

==Early life==
Dionysius I began life as a clerk in a public office. Because of his achievements in the war against Carthage that had begun in [[409 BC]], he was elected supreme military commander in 406 BC; in the following year he seized total power and became tyrant.<ref name=HM440/> In subsequent years he consolidated his position ruthlessly.

==Mercenaries and Autocracy==
Dionysius the Elder’s victory over the democratic Syracuse represents both the very worst and the very best of the mercenary-leader. Dionysius’ career as a despot occurred after he was given six hundred personal mercenaries to guard his person after faking an attack on his own life. He was able to increase this guard to one thousand and gradually consolidated his power and established himself as a tyrant. He imposed his mercenaries on all parts of the [[polis]] community. Such an act would have truly wiped out any suggestion that democracy was still in force. His rule was “unconstitutional and illegitimate and could not fail to provoke rebellions among the partisans of democratic government”.<ref>Yalichev, Serge. (1997) Mercenaries of the Ancient World, London: Constable, pp 210</ref> Dionysius’ position at home would be threatened even as early as 403 by those philosophically opposed to tyranny. Interestingly, [[Sparta]], which had in the past deposed tyrants from [[Corinth]] to [[Athens]], did not damn Dionysius and his autocracy. In fact relations between the two were very positive:

<blockquote>
When the Lacedaemonians had settled the affairs of Greece to their own taste, they dispatched Aristus, one of their distinguished men, to Syracuse, ostensibly pretending that they would overthrow the government, but in truth with intent to increase the power of the tyranny; for they hoped that by helping to establish the rule of Dionysius they would obtain his ready service because of their benefactions to him.</blockquote><ref>Diodorus Siculus 14.10.2</ref>

Dionysius would even have the privilege of being allowed to conscript mercenaries from lands under Spartan authority. The demise of a prominent democratic polis in the classical world and the subsequent tenure of Dionysius represented what would become a recurring norm in fourth century Greece, thanks to the prevalence of mercenaries. The mercenary and the tyrant went hand-in-hand; [[Polybius]] for example noted how “the security of despots rests entirely on the loyalty and power of mercenaries”.<ref>Polybius 11.13</ref> [[Aristotle]] wrote how some form of ‘guard’ (viz. a personal army) is needed for absolute kingship,<ref>Aristotle ''Politics'' 1286b28-40</ref> and for an elected tyrant a very particular number of professional soldiers should be employed; too few undermines the tyrants power and too many threatens the polis itself. The philosopher notes how based on this observation, the people of Syracuse were warned to not let Dionysius conscript too many ‘guards’ during his reign.<ref>Ibid</ref>

==Conquests==
He [[Sicilian Wars|carried on war with Carthage]] from [[397 BC]] to [[392 BC]] with varying success;<ref name=HM440>{{cite book
|title=The Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Biography
|publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=061825210X |year=2003 |page=440}}</ref> his attempts to drive the Carthaginians entirely out of the island of Sicily failed, and at his death they were masters of at least a third of it. He also carried on an expedition against [[Rhegium]] capturing it <ref name=HM440/> and attacking its allied cities in ''[[Magna Graecia]]''. In one campaign, in which he was joined by the Lucanians, he devastated the territories of [[Thurii]] and [[Croton]] in an attempt to defend [[Locri]].

After a protracted siege he [[Siege of Rhegium|took Rhegium]] (386), and sold the inhabitants as slaves. He joined the Illyrians in an attempt to plunder the temple of [[Delphi]], pillaged the temple of [[Caere]] (then allied with Rome) on the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] coast. In the [[Adriatic]], to facilitate trade, Dionysius founded [[Ancona]], [[Adria]] and [[Vis (island)|Issa]]<ref>Pseudoskylax, Periplus</ref>. After him [[Adriatic]] became a sea of [[Syracuse]]. In the [[Peloponnesian War]] he espoused the side of the [[Sparta]]ns, and assisted them with mercenaries.

In 385 BC [[Alcetas I of Epirus|Alcetas of Epirus]] was a refugee in Dionysus' court. Dionysus wanted a friendly monarch in [[Epirus]] and so sent 2,000 Greek [[hoplites]] and five hundred suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians under Bardyllis in attacking the [[Molossians]] of Epirus. They ravaged the region and killed 15,000 Molossians, and Alcetas regained his throne.<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 479: "... Molossi, Alcetas, who was a refugee at his court, Dionysius sent a supply of arms and 2,000 troops to the Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15,000 Molossians. Sparta intervened as soon as they had learned of the events and expelled the Illyrians, but Alcetas had regained his ..."</ref> Sparta however intervened;<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 470, "Sparta had the alliance of Thessaly, Macedonia, and Molossia in Epirus, which she had helped to stave off an Illyrian invasion. ..."</ref> under [[Agesilaus II|Agesilaus]] and with aid from Thessaly, Macedonia and the Molossians themselves, the Spartans expelled<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Library'', Book 15.13.1,[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Diod.+15.13.1 Fifteenth Book of Diodorus]</ref> the Illyrians.<ref>''The Cambridge Ancient History'', by John Boardman, ISBN 0521233488, 1923, page 428: "Bardyllis who seized power and set himself up as king of the Dardani"...."Forming an alliance with Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse he killed 15,000 Molossians"</ref>

==Death==
According to others, he was poisoned by his physicians at the instigation of his son, [[Dionysius II of Syracuse|Dionysius the Younger]] who succeeded him as ruler of Syracuse. His life was written by [[Philistus]], but the work is not extant.

Additionally, it is said that upon hearing news of his play, ''The Ransom of Hector'', winning the competition at the Lanaean festival at Athens, he celebrated so fiercely that he drank himself to death. Others report that he died of natural causes shortly after learning of his play's victory in 367 BC. The third theory suggests that "The Company", of which he was a member, had taken revenge on his earlier purges and taxation imposed upon them, in an attempt to raise money for the war with Carthage.

==Intellectual tastes==
Like [[Peisistratos (Athens)|Pisistratus]], tyrant of [[Athens]], Dionysius was fond of having literary men about him, such as the historian [[Philistus]], the poet [[Philoxenus of Cythera|Philoxenus]], and the philosopher [[Plato]], but treated them in a most arbitrary manner. Once he had Philoxenus arrested and sent to the quarries for voicing a bad opinion about his poetry. A few days later, he released Philoxenus because of his friends' requests, and brought the poet before him for another poetry reading. Dionysius read his own work and the audience applauded. When he asked Philoxenus how he liked it, the poet replied only "Take me back to the quarries."

He also posed as an author and patron of literature; his poems, severely criticized by [[Philoxenus]], were hissed at the Olympic games; but having gained a prize for a tragedy on the ''Ransom of Hector'' at the [[Lenaea]] at [[Athens]], he was so elated that he engaged in a debauch which proved fatal.

His name is also known for the legend of [[Damon and Pythias]], and he features indirectly (via his son) in the legend of the Sword of [[Damocles]]. The [[Ear of Dionysius]] in Syracuse is an artificial limestone cave named after Dionysius.

==Walls of Syracuse==
In [[402 BC]] Dionysius I began building the Circuit Walls of Syracuse. They were completed in [[397 BC]] and had the following characteristics:

*Length: 27 kilometers
*Width at base: 3.3 m to 5.35 m
*Number of known towers on circuit: 14 (including Euryalos)
*Largest tower: 8.5 m x 8.5 m
*Deepest ditch (at Euryalos fortress): 9 m
Building so big a fortress would have involved installing well over 300 tons of stone every day for 5 years.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World |editor=Chris Scarre |year=1999 |publisher=Thames and Hudson |pages=210–211}}</ref>

==References==
{{Ibid|date=October 2010}}
{{Wikiquote}}
<references/>
*{{1911}}

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:432 BC births]]
[[Category:367 BC deaths]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Greek people]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek rulers]]
[[Category:Sicilian tyrants]]
[[Category:Ancient Syracusians]]

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 [[Category:432 BC births]]
 [[Category:367 BC deaths]]
-[[Category:Sicilian Greeks]]
+[[Category:Sicilian Greeks|Dionysius, 1]]

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=061825210X |year=2003 |page=440}}</ref> his attempts to drive the Carthaginians entirely out of the island of Sicily failed, and at his death they were masters of at least a third of it. He also carried on an expedition against [[Rhegium]] capturing it <ref name=HM440/> and attacking its allied cities in ''[[Magna Graecia]]''. In one campaign, in which he was joined by the Lucanians, he devastated the territories of [[Thurii]] and [[Croton]] in an attempt to defend [[Locri]].
-After a protracted siege he [[Siege of Rhegium|took Rhegium]] (386), and sold the inhabitants as slaves. He joined the Illyrians in an attempt to plunder the temple of [[Delphi]], pillaged the temple of [[Caere]] (then allied with Rome) on the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] coast. In the [[Adriatic]], to facilitate trade, Dionysius founded [[Ancona]], [[Adria]] and [[Vis (island)|Issa]]<ref>Pseudoskylax, Periplus</ref>. After him [[Adriatic]] became a sea of [[Syracuse]]. In the [[Peloponnesian War]] he espoused the side of the [[Sparta]]ns, and assisted them with mercenaries.
+After a protracted siege he [[Siege of Rhegium|took Rhegium]] (386), and sold the inhabitants as slaves. He joined the Illyrians in an attempt to plunder the temple of [[Delphi]], pillaged the temple of [[Caere]] (then allied with Rome) on the Etruscan coast. In the Adriatic, to facilitate trade, Dionysius founded [[Ancona]], [[Adria]] and [[Vis (island)|Issa]]<ref>Pseudoskylax, Periplus</ref>. The Adriatic effectively became a sea of [[Syracuse]]. In the [[Peloponnesian War]] he took the side of the [[Sparta]]ns, and assisted them with mercenaries.
-In 385 BC [[Alcetas I of Epirus|Alcetas of Epirus]] was a refugee in Dionysus' court. Dionysus wanted a friendly monarch in [[Epirus]] and so sent 2,000 Greek [[hoplites]] and five hundred suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians under Bardyllis in attacking the [[Molossians]] of Epirus. They ravaged the region and killed 15,000 Molossians, and Alcetas regained his throne.<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 479: "... Molossi, Alcetas, who was a refugee at his court, Dionysius sent a supply of arms and 2,000 troops to the Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15,000 Molossians. Sparta intervened as soon as they had learned of the events and expelled the Illyrians, but Alcetas had regained his ..."</ref> Sparta however intervened;<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 470, "Sparta had the alliance of Thessaly, Macedonia, and Molossia in Epirus, which she had helped to stave off an Illyrian invasion. ..."</ref> under [[Agesilaus II|Agesilaus]] and with aid from Thessaly, Macedonia and the Molossians themselves, the Spartans expelled<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Library'', Book 15.13.1,[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Diod.+15.13.1 Fifteenth Book of Diodorus]</ref> the Illyrians.<ref>''The Cambridge Ancient History'', by John Boardman, ISBN 0521233488, 1923, page 428: "Bardyllis who seized power and set himself up as king of the Dardani"...."Forming an alliance with Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse he killed 15,000 Molossians"</ref>
+In [[385 BC]] [[Alcetas I of Epirus|Alcetas of Epirus]] was a refugee in Dionysus' court. Dionysus wanted a friendly monarch in [[Epirus]] and so sent 2,000 Greek [[hoplites]] and five hundred suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians under Bardyllis in attacking the [[Molossians]] of Epirus. They ravaged the region and killed 15,000 Molossians, and Alcetas regained his throne.<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 479: "... Molossi, Alcetas, who was a refugee at his court, Dionysius sent a supply of arms and 2,000 troops to the Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15,000 Molossians. Sparta intervened as soon as they had learned of the events and expelled the Illyrians, but Alcetas had regained his ..."</ref> Sparta however intervened;<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 470, "Sparta had the alliance of Thessaly, Macedonia, and Molossia in Epirus, which she had helped to stave off an Illyrian invasion. ..."</ref> under [[Agesilaus II|Agesilaus]] and with aid from Thessaly, Macedonia and the Molossians themselves, the Spartans expelled<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Library'', Book 15.13.1,[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Diod.+15.13.1 Fifteenth Book of Diodorus]</ref> the Illyrians.<ref>''The Cambridge Ancient History'', by John Boardman, ISBN 0521233488, 1923, page 428: "Bardyllis who seized power and set himself up as king of the Dardani"...."Forming an alliance with Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse he killed 15,000 Molossians"</ref>
 ==Intellectual tastes==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 In 385 BC [[Alcetas I of Epirus|Alcetas of Epirus]] was a refugee in Dionysus' court. Dionysus wanted a friendly monarch in [[Epirus]] and so sent 2,000 Greek [[hoplites]] and five hundred suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians under Bardyllis in attacking the [[Molossians]] of Epirus. They ravaged the region and killed 15,000 Molossians, and Alcetas regained his throne.<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 479: "... Molossi, Alcetas, who was a refugee at his court, Dionysius sent a supply of arms and 2,000 troops to the Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15,000 Molossians. Sparta intervened as soon as they had learned of the events and expelled the Illyrians, but Alcetas had regained his ..."</ref> Sparta however intervened;<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'', by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN 0198730950, 1986, page 470, "Sparta had the alliance of Thessaly, Macedonia, and Molossia in Epirus, which she had helped to stave off an Illyrian invasion. ..."</ref> under [[Agesilaus II|Agesilaus]] and with aid from Thessaly, Macedonia and the Molossians themselves, the Spartans expelled<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Library'', Book 15.13.1,[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Diod.+15.13.1 Fifteenth Book of Diodorus]</ref> the Illyrians.<ref>''The Cambridge Ancient History'', by John Boardman, ISBN 0521233488, 1923, page 428: "Bardyllis who seized power and set himself up as king of the Dardani"...."Forming an alliance with Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse he killed 15,000 Molossians"</ref>
 ==Death==
@@ Line 28: / Line 33: @@
 Another theory suggests that "The Company", of which he was a member, took revenge on him for his earlier purges and taxation imposed upon them, in an attempt to raise money for the war with Carthage.
-He also posed as an author and patron of literature; his poems, severely criticized by [[Philoxenus]], were hissed at the Olympic games; but having gained a prize for a tragedy on the ''Ransom of Hector'' at the [[Lenaea]] at [[Athens]], he was so elated that he engaged in a debauch which proved fatal.
+His life was written by [[Philistus]], but the work is not extant
-His name is also known for the legend of [[Damon and Pythias]], and he features indirectly (via his son) in the legend of the Sword of [[Damocles]]. The [[Ear of Dionysius]] in Syracuse is an artificial limestone cave named after Dionysius.
+His name is also known for the legend of [[Damon and Pythias]], and he features indirectly (via his son) in the legend of the Sword of [[Damocles]]. The "Ear of Dionysius" in Syracuse is an artificial limestone cave named after Dionysius.
 ==Walls of Syracuse==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Death==
-According to others, he was poisoned by his physicians at the instigation of his son, [[Dionysius II of Syracuse|Dionysius the Younger]] who succeeded him as ruler of Syracuse. His life was written by [[Philistus]], but the work is not extant.
+It is said that upon hearing news of his play, ''The Ransom of Hector'', winning the competition at the Lanaean festival at [[Athens]], he celebrated so fiercely that he drank himself to death.  Others report that he died of natural causes shortly after learning of his play's victory in [[367 BC]].
-Additionally, it is said that upon hearing news of his play, ''The Ransom of Hector'', winning the competition at the Lanaean festival at Athens, he celebrated so fiercely that he drank himself to death.  Others report that he died of natural causes shortly after learning of his play's victory in 367 BC. The third theory suggests that "The Company", of which he was a member, had taken revenge on his earlier purges and taxation imposed upon them, in an attempt to raise money for the war with Carthage.
+According to others, he was poisoned by his physicians at the instigation of his son, [[Dionysius II of Syracuse|Dionysius the Younger]] who succeeded him as ruler of Syracuse.
 ==Intellectual tastes==

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
 *''This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 *Largest tower: 8.5 m x 8.5 m
 *Deepest ditch (at Euryalos fortress): 9 m
-Building so big a fortress would have involved installing well over 300 tons of stone every day for 5 years.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World |editor=Chris Scarre |year=1999 |publisher=Thames and Hudson |pages=210–211}}</ref>
+Building so big a fortress would have involved installing well over 300 tons of stone every day for 5 years.<ref> "The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World" by Chris Scarre, 1999, publisher=Thames and Hudson, pages=210–211</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Ibid|date=October 2010}}
 <references/>
-*{{1911}}
+*''This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press
+''