Hieron I of Syracuse
Hieron I of Syracuse was a significant figure in ancient Sicily, known for his transition to power following the rule of his brother, Gelon. After Gelon’s conquest of Syracuse in 485 BCE, he established a tyranny that Hieron would later inherit upon Gelon’s death in 478 BCE. Hieron's rise to power was marked by political intrigue, including a plot against their brother Polyzelus, which ultimately led to a temporary military standoff that was resolved diplomatically. His military prowess was showcased in 474 BCE when he defeated an Etruscan naval force, demonstrating Syracuse's strength in the region. Throughout his reign, Hieron engaged in ambitious colonization efforts and earned a reputation for ruthlessness by relocating inhabitants of Naxos and Catana. In addition to his military and political endeavors, Hieron was a notable patron of the arts, commissioning works from poets like Pindar and Bacchylides and hosting theatrical performances, such as Aeschylus's play "Persai." His rule contributed to stabilizing the region, preventing Etruscan and Carthaginian influences from dominating the western Mediterranean.
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Hieron I of Syracuse
Related civilizations: Classical Greece, Carthage, Etruscans
Major role/position: Tyrant of Syracuse
Life
Hieron I (HI-uh-rahn) of Syracuse first appears in the historical record when his brother, Gelon of Syracuse, conquered the city of Gela and assigned its governance to him. After conquering Syracuse in 485 b.c.e., Gelon created a strong tyranny in eastern Sicily. However, he fell ill in 478 b.c.e. and passed his authority to Hieron. To guarantee the transition, Hieron plotted against a third brother, Polyzelus, by sending him into a dangerous battle. Learning of the scheme, Polyzelus fled to his father-in-law, Theron of Acragas, and convinced him to prepare for war. Ambassadors, however, diffused the situation.
Hieron demonstrated Syracuse’s military power in 474 b.c.e. by decisively defeating an Etruscan naval force near Cumae. He later removed the inhabitants of Naxos and Catana (refounded as Aetna) and transplanted ten thousand colonists, earning a reputation for ruthlessness. He displayed his competitiveness in the Pythian and Olympic Games, triumphing in horse and chariot races in 476, 470, and 468 b.c.e. He commissioned the poets Pindar and Bacchylides to write commemorative odes. As a patron of the arts, Hieron sheltered the elderly poet Simonides. Further, Aeschylus gave a performance of his play, Persai (472 b.c.e.; The Persians, 1777), at court. The philosopher Xenophanes also visited Sicily. Xenophon, the historian, related a fictitious conversation about tyranny between Hieron and Simonides.
Influence
The creation of a strong state helped prevent Etruscan and Carthaginian domination of the western Mediterranean.
Bibliography
Diodorus, Siculus. Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Vol. 11. Translated by C. H. Oldfather et al. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1992.
Sammartino, Peter, and William Robert. Sicily: An Informal History. London: Associated University Press, 1992.