Period 4, circa 295 BCE
Æ Litra 23mm, 8.35 gm, 1h
ΣΩTEIΡA, head of Artemis Soteria right, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, quiver over shoulder / AΓAΘOKΛEOΣ BAΣIΛEOS, winged thunderbolt.
Calciati II pg. 279, 142/25; SNG ANS 708; Favorito 34
Syracuse has such a long and amazing history that I’ll do it no justice here. Indeed, for a large portion of antiquity it was the strongest Greek state in existence – more powerful than even Sparta and Athens. The only came to a strong headwind once, when Athens went on its disastrous invasion of Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War.
Otherwise, Syracuse resorted to tormenting its neighbors and cycling through a seemingly never-ending parade of tyrants.
Syracuse Sicily
Ae Trias 22.1mm, 8.4gms
Obv: SOTEIPA; Draped bust of Artemis Soteira right with quiver over shoulder
Rev: AG AThOKLEOS BASILIEWS; Winged thunderbolt
SNG ANS 708
Over time, I hope to expand this page. I must admit I’m not as familiar with the history of Syracuse since my focus has been on more around Greece and Turkey.
Theron makes himself tyrant of Akragas and forms an alliance with Gelon of Gela and Syracuse.
Thrasydaios succeeds Theron as tyrant of Akragas. Hiero I of Syracuse invades and overthrows him.
Ducetius, leader of the Sicels, defeated at Nomae by Syracuse, but is allowed into exile.
The Spartan general Gylippos takes Iaitas on his way from Himera to Syracuse.
The Athenian forces in Sicily are destroyed by Syracuse.
Pharnabazos orders ships built at Antandros. At the same time, Syracuse helps Antandros finish its city wall, resulting in citizen privileges for Syracusans there. When the ships are complete, Pharnabazos sails for Kalchedon.
Dionysios I of Syracuse takes control of Enna through treachery.
Hipponion taken by Dionysios I of Syracuse.
Agathokles moves with his father, a potter, to Syracuse.
Agathokles begins his military career serving in the army of Syracuse under the leadership of Timoleon.
Timoleon of Syracuse drives Carthaginians out of Akragas and declares it a free city.
Agathokles marries the daughter of a wealthy Syracusan citizen, which helps him rise in social and political standing.
After years of service in the army, Agathokles gains popularity and starts to accumulate power in Syracuse, becoming involved in political conflicts.
Agathokles seizes power in Syracuse by staging a coup. He establishes himself as a tyrant, eliminating his political rivals and ending the democratic government.
Agathokles of Syracuse begins a campaign to expand his territory in Sicily. He conquers several neighboring cities, including Gela and Messana.
Outbreak of the Agathokles War: The tyrant Agathokles of Syracuse invades North Africa, threatening Carthage but is ultimately repelled.
Agathokles‘ conflict with Carthage escalates. Agathokles faces a major invasion by the Carthaginian general Hamilcar, who besieges Syracuse. In a daring move, Agathokles decides to strike back by invading North Africa.
Agathokles dies of natural causes at the age of 72. On his deathbed, he decides not to pass his power to his descendants, attempting to restore a democratic government in Syracuse.
Sicily is reorganized as a Roman province, including Akragas, with its administrative center at Syracuse.