Chapter XLIII

EVENTS IN SICILY DOWN TO THE EXPULSION OF THE GELONIAN DYNASTY
AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POPULAR GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
ISLAND.

Agrigentum and Gela superior to Syracuse before 500 B. C.
— Phalaris despot of Agrigentum. — Syracuse in 500 B. C.
— oligarchical government under the Gamori, or privileged
descendants of the original proprietary colonists — the Demos
— the Kyllyrii, or Serfs. — Early governments of the Greek
cities in Sicily — original oligarchies subverted in many places
by despots — attempted colony of the Spartan prince Dorieus. —
Kleander despot of Gela, B. C. about 500. — First rise of Gelo
and Ænesidêmus in his service. Têlinês, the first marked ancestor
of Gelo. — Gelo — in high command among the mercenaries of
Hippokratês despot of Gela. — Fate of the Ionic town of Zanklê,
afterwards Messina — it is seized by the Samians — conduct of
Hippokratês. — Hippokratês is victorious over the Syracusans —
takes Kamarina — dies. — Gelo becomes in his place despot of
Gela. — Greatness of Gelo — he gets possession of Syracuse, and
transfers the seat of his power from Gela to Syracuse. — Conquest
of various Sicilian towns by Gelo — he transports the oligarchy
to Syracuse and sells the Demos for slaves. — Increased power
and population of Syracuse under Gelo — it becomes the first
city in Sicily. — Power of Gelo when the envoys from Sparta and
Athens came to entreat his aid, B. C. 481. — Plans of Gelo for
strengthening Sicilian Hellenism against the barbaric interests
in the islands. — Spartan and Athenian envoys apply to Gelo —
his answer. — Carthaginian invasion of Sicily, simultaneous with
the invasion of Greece by Xerxes. — The Carthaginian army under
Hamilkar besiege Himera — battle of Himera — complete victory
gained over them by Gelo. — Supremacy of Gelo in Sicily — he
grants peace to the Carthaginians. — Conduct of Gelo towards the
confederate Greeks who were contending against Xerxes. — Number
of prisoners taken at the battle of Himera and distributed among
the Carthaginian cities — their prosperity, especially that
of Agrigentum. — Death and obsequies of Gelo. — Number of new
citizens whom Gelo had introduced at Syracuse. — Hiero, brother
and successor of Gelo at Syracuse — jealous of his brother
Polyzêlus — harsh as a ruler — quarrel between Hiero of Syracuse
and Thêro of Agrigentum — appeased by the poet Simonides. —
Severe treatment of the inhabitants of Himera by Thêro. — Power
and exploits of Hiero — against the Carthaginians and Tyrrhenians
— against Anaxilaus — he founds the city of Ætna — new wholesale
transplantation of inhabitants — compliments of Pindar. — Death
of Anaxilaus of Rhegium, and of Thêro of Agrigentum. Thrasydæus,
son of Thêro, rules Agrigentum and Himera. His cruel government
— he is defeated by Hiero and expelled. — Great power of Hiero,
after the defeat of Thrasydæus — his death. — Thrasybulus,
brother and successor of Hiero — disputes among the members of
the Gelonian family. — Cruelties and unpopularity of Thrasybulus
— mutiny against him at Syracuse. — Expulsion of Thrasybulus,
and extinction of the Gelonian dynasty. — Popular governments
established in all the Sicilian cities — confusion and disputes
arising out of the number of new citizens and mercenaries
domiciliated by the Gelonian princes. — Internal dissensions
and combat in Syracuse. — Defeat of the Gelonians — Syracuse
made into one popular government, one city, one fortification.
— Disorders in other Sicilian cities, arising from the return
of exiles who had been dispossessed under the Gelonian dynasty.
Katana and Ætna. — General congress and compromise — the exiles
are provided for — Kamarina again restored as a separate
autonomous city. — Reactionary feelings against the previous
despotism, and in favor of popular government, at Syracuse and in
the other cities. — Italiot Greeks — destructive defeat of the
inhabitants of Tarentum and of Rhegium.
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