Dionysius of Syracuse

Dionysius (c. 432-367 BC), tyrant of Syracuse, began life as a clerk in a public office, but by courage and diplomacy succeeded in making himself supreme.

He carried on war with Carthage with varying success; his attempts to drive the Carthaginians entirely out of the island failed, and at his death they were masters of at least a third of it. He also carried on an expedition against Rhegium and its allied cities in Magna Graecia. In one campaign, in which he was joined by the Lucanians, he devastated the territories of Thurii, Croton and Locri.

After a protracted siege he 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 on the Etruscan coast, and founded several military colonies on the Adriatic. In the Peloponnesian War he espoused the side of the Spartans, and assisted them with mercenaries.

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.

According to others, he was poisoned by his physicians at the instigation of his son. His life was written by Philistus, but the work isn't extant. Dionysius was regarded by the ancients as a type of the worst kind of despot--cruel, suspicious and vindictive. Like Pisistratus, he was fond of having distinguished literary men about him, such as the historian Philistus, the poet Philoxenus, and the philosopher Plato, but treated them in a most arbitrary manner.

See Diod. Sic. xiiL, xiv., xv.; J Bass, Dionysius I von Syrakus (Vienna, 1881).

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.

Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)

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Und wer mit ungeweihter, schuldger Hand Der, spricht die Gottheit--"--"Nun?"-- Du haettest also niemals ihn gehoben?" Versucht."--"Das fass ich nicht. Wenn von der Wahrheit "Und ein Gesetz", faellt ihm sein Fuehrer ein. Ist dieser duenne Flor--fuer deine Hand Ihm raubt des Wissens brennende Begier Und rafft sich auf um Mitternacht. Zum Tempel Leicht ward es ihm, die Mauer zu ersteigen, Traegt ein beherzter Sprung den Wagenden. Hier steht er nun, und grauenvoll umfaengt Die nur der Tritte hohler Widerhall Von oben durch der Kuppel Oeffnung wirft Und furchtbar wie ein gegenwaertger Gott In ihrem langen Schleier die Gestalt. Er tritt hinan mit ungewissem Schritt, Da zuckt es heiss und kuehl durch sein Gebein Ungluecklicher, was willst du tun? So ruft Versuchen den Allheiligen willst du? Rueckt diesen Schleier, bis ich selbst ihn hebe. Wer diesen Schleier hebt, soll Wahrheit schauen? (Er rufts mit lauter Stimm.) "Ich will sie schauen." Gellt ihm ein langes Echo spottend nach. Er sprichts und hat den Schleier aufgedeckt. Ich weiss es nicht. Besinnungslos und bleich, Am Fussgestell der Isis ausgestreckt. Hat seine Zunge nie bekannt. Auf ewig Ihn riss ein tiefer Gram zum fruehen Grabe. .