) prize at the Lenaea, with a play called “The Ran-
After the death of his first wife, Dionysius had som of Hector.
After the death of his first wife, Dionysius had som of Hector.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
387.
(xiv.
a batile, withdren with his land forces, and shut 103–103, 111. ) The inhabitants of the conquered
himself up within the walls of Syracuse. Aban- cities were for the most part removed to Syracuse,
doned by the other Sicilian Greeks, and besieged and their territory given up to the Locrians.
by the Carthaginians both by sea and land, his Dionysius was now at the summit of his great-
situation appeared to be desperate. It is even said ness, and during the twenty years that elapsed
that he was on the point of giving up all for lost, from this period to his death, possessed an amount
and making his escape, but was deterred by one of of power and influence far exceeding those enjoyed
his friends observing, “that sovereign power was by any other Greek before the time of Alexander.
an honourable winding-sheet. ” (Isocrat. Archi- In Sicily he held undisputed rule over the eastern
dom. $ 49; Aelian. V. H. iv. 8; but compare half of the island, while the principal cities of the
Diod. xiv. 8. ) A pestilence shortly after broke interior and those along the north coast, as far as
out in the Carthaginian camp, which a second time Cephaloedium, were either subject to him, or held
proved the salvation of Syracuse. Dionysius alily by his close and dependent allies. (xiv. 78, 96. )
availed himseif of the state of weakness to which In Italy it is difficult to estimate the precise ex-
the enemy was thus reduced, and by a sudden tent of his influence: direci dominion he had ap-
attack both by sea and land, defeated the Cartha- parently none. But his allies, the Locrians, were
ginian army, and burnt great part of their fleet. masters of the whole southern extremity of the
Still he was glad to consent to a secret capitulation, peninsula, and his powerful fects gave him the
by which the Carthaginians themselves were allowed command both of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic
to depart unmolested, abandoning both their allies In the former le repressed the piracies of
and foreign mercenaries, who, thus left without a the Etruscans, and, under presence of retaliation,
leader, were quickly dispersed. (Diod. xiv. 41 led a fleet of 60 triremes against them, with which
–76. )
he took the town of Pyrgi, the port of Caere, and
No peace was concluded with Carthage upon plundered its wealthy temple of Matuta. (Diod.
this occasion ; but the effects of their laie disastrous xv. 14; Strab. V. p. 226; Pseud. -Aristot. Oeconom.
expedition, and the revolt of their subjects in | ii. 2. ) On this occasion he is also said to have
seas.
## p. 1035 (#1055) ##########################################
DIONYSIUS.
1035
DIONYSIUS.
&
assailed Corsica (Strab. l. c. ), but probably did not said even on the same day-Doris, a Locrian of
form any permanent establishment there. The distinguished birth, and Aristomache, a Syracusan,
sovereignty of the Adriatic seems to have been a the daughter of his old patron and supporter lip-
favourite object of his ambition. lle endeavoured parinus. (Diod. xiv. 44; Plut. Dion, 3. ) By the
to secure it by establishing a colony on the island former he had three children, of which the eldest
of Lissa, or, according to other accounts, at Lissus was his successor, Dionysius. Aristomache borc
in Epeirus (comp. Scymn. Chius, l. 412; Diod. him two sons, Hipparinus and Nysieus, and two
xv. 13, 14), where he kept up a considerable naval daughters, Sophrosyne and Arete. (Plut. Dion, 6;
force, and another at Adria in Picenum. (Etym. Corn. Nep. Dion, 1 ; Athen. X. pp. 433–6. )
Magn. s. l. , Aðplas. ) Ancona too was probably The character of Dionysius has been drawn in
founded by him at the same time. (Plin. 11. N. the blackest colours by many ancient writers ; he
ii. 13; Strab. v. p. 241; Arnold's Romc, vol. i. appears indeed to have become a sort of type of a
p. 437. ) With the same view he sent a squadron tyrant, in its worst sense, and it is probable that
to assist the Lacedaemonians in preventing the many of the anecdotes of him related by Cicero,
Athenians from establishing themselves at Corcyra, Aelian, Polynenus, and other later writers, are
B. C. 373. (Xen. Hell. vi. 2. SS 4, 33. ) The ex- grossly exaggerated; but the very circumstance
tent of his commercial relations may be inferred that he was so regarded in opposition to Gelon and
from his importing horses for his chariots from the others of the older tyrants (see Plut. Dion, 5) is in
Venetian tribes at the head of the Adriatic. (Strab. itself a proof that the opprobrium was not alto-
v. p. 212. ) As early as B. c. 402 he is mentioned gether undeserved. He was undoubtedly a man
as sending large supplies of corn to relieve a scarcity of great energy and activity of mind, as well as
at Rome. (Liv. iv. 52 ; Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. ii. great personal courage ; but he was altogether un-
p. 564. ) At the same time he took every oppor- scrupulous in the means which he employed to
tunity of extending his relations with foreign attain his ends, and had no thought beyond his
powers, and strengthening himself by alliances. own personal aggrandizement. Thus while lic
Thus we find him assisting the Illyrians against boasted that he left to his son an empire held to-
their neighbours the Molossians (Diod. xiv. 13), gether with bonds of iron (Plut. Dion, 7), he
and concluding a treaty with the Gauls, who had exhausted his subjects by excessive taxation, and
lately made their appearance in Italy, and who was obliged to have recourse to erery kind of ex-
continued from this time to furnish a considerable pedient to amass money. (Aristot. Pol. v. ll;
part of his mercenary troops. (Justin, xx. 5; Xen. Pseud. Aristot. Oeconom. ii. 2. The statements of
Hell. vii
. 1. $$ 20,31. ) In Greece itself he cultivated the latter must be received with caution, but they
the friendship of the Lacedaemonians, to whose are conclusive as to the general fact. ) Diodorus
support he had been greatly indebted in the earlier tells us that, when bis power became firmly esta-
days of his rule (Diod. xiv. 10, 70); and among blished, he abated much of his former severity (xiv.
the last acts of his reign was the sending an 45), and he gave a signal instance of clemency in
auxiliary force in two successive years to support his treatment of the Italian Greeks who had fallen
them against the increasing power of the Thebans. into his power at the battle of the Helorus. (Diod.
(Xen. Hell. vii. 1. %$ 20, 28; Diod. xv. 70. ) xiv. 105. ) But it is probable that the long pos-
He also conciliated, but by what means we know session of absolute power had an injurious effect
not, the farour of the Athenians, so that they be upon his character, and much apparent inconsist-
stowed
upon him the freedom of their city. (Epist. ency may be accounted for in this manner. In his
Philipp. ap. Dem. p. 176, ed. Bekk. )
latter years he became extremely suspicious, and
The peace with Carthage did not remain unin- apprehensive of treachery even from his nearest
terrupted during the whole of this period, but the friends, and is said to have adopted the most ex-
wars were not of any great importance, and are cessive precautions to guard against it. Many of
not known to us in detail
. In B. C. 383 the in these stories hare however an air of great exagge-
trigues of Dionysius with the subject allies of Car- ration. (Cic. Tusc. v. 20; Plut. Dion. 9. )
thage led to a renewal of hostilities. Two great Though his government was oppressive in a
battles, the sites of both of which are uncertain, financial point of view, Dionysius seems to have
decided the fortune of the war. In the first Diony- contributed much to the greatness of Syracuse it-
sius was completely victorious, and Mago, the Car- self, both by increasing the population with the
thaginian general, fell; but in the second the inhabitants removed from many conquered cities,
Syracusans were defeated with great slaughter. and by adorning it with splendid temples and other
Peace was concluded soon after, by which the river public edifices, so as to render it unquestionably
Halycus was fixed as the boundary of the two the greatest of all Greek cities. (Diod. xv. 13;
powers. (Diod. xv. 15–17. ) Dionysius seems Isocrat. Panegyr. $ 145. ) At the same time he
to have been again the aggressor in a fresh war displayed his magnificence by sending splendid
which broke out in B. c. 368, and in which he a deputations to the Olympic games, and rich pre-
second time advanced with his army to the extreme sents both to Olympia and Delphi. (Diod. xiv.
western point of Sicily, and laid siege to Lily- | 109, xvi. 57. ). Nor was he without literary am-
baeum. Hostilities were however suspended on bition. In the midst of his political and military
the approach of winter, and before they could be cares he devoted himself assiduously to poetry, and
resumed Dionysius died at Syracuse, B. c. 367. His not only caused his poems to be publicly recited at
last illness is said to have been brought on by ex- the Olympic games, but repeatedly contended for
cessive feasting ; but according to some accounts, the prize of tragedy at Athens. Here he several
his death was hastened by his medical attendants, times obtained the second and third prizes; and,
in order to secure the succession for his son. finally, just before his death, bore away the first
(Diod. xv. 74; Plut. Dion, 6; Corn. Nep. Dion, 2.
) prize at the Lenaea, with a play called “The Ran-
After the death of his first wife, Dionysius had som of Hector. " These honours seem to prove
married almost exactly at the same time-some that his poetry could not have been altogether so
## p. 1036 (#1056) ##########################################
1036
DIONYSIIS.
DIONYSII'S.
-
contemptible as it is represented by later writers ; | Tell. vii. 4. $ 12. ) But his character was peaceful
but only the titles of some of his dramas and a few and indolent; he listened to conclude by a treaty
detached lines are preserved to us. lleis especially the war with the Carthaginians, in which he found
Wamed for the use of far-fetched and unusual ex- himself engaged on his accession; and the only
pressions. (Diod. xiv. 109; xv. 74; Tzetz. Chil. other war that be undertook was one against tlie
v. 178-18. 5; Cic. Tusc. 1. 22; Lucian, uilt. Jus Lucanians, probably in defence of his Italian
doctum. $ 15; Heliadius, ap. Photium. p. 532, 1,. allies, which he also quickly bronght to a close.
cd. Bekk. )
Some fragments of his tragedies will (Diod. xvi. 5. ) Philistus, the historian, who, after
be found in Stobaeus (Florilcg. 38, 2; 38, 6; 49, 9; having been one of his father's chief supporters,
98, 30; 105, 2; 125, 8 ; Eclogue, i. 4, 19) and in had been subsequently banished by liim, enjoyed
Athenaeus. (ix. p. 401, f. )
the highest place in the confidence of the younger
In accordance with the same spirit we find him Dionysius, and appears to have been charged with
secking the society of men distinguished in litera- the conduct of all his military cnterprises. Notsvith-
ture and philosophy. entertaining the poet Philoxe- standing his advanced age, he is represented as
mms at liis tibile, patronizing the Pythagorean rather encouraging thian repressing the excesses of
philosophers, who were at this time numerous in Dionysius, and joining with the pairty who sought
Tully and Sicily, and inviting Plato to Syracuse. to overthrow the power of Dion, and ultimately
lle however soon after sent the latter away from succeeded in driving him into exile. The banisti-
Sicily in di grace; and though the story of his ment of Dion contributed to render Dionysius un-
having caused him to be sold as a slave, as well as popular among the Syracusans, who began also to
that of his having sent Philoxenus to the stone despise liim for his indolent and dissolute life, as
quarries for ridiculing his bad verses, are probably well as for his habitual drunkenness. Yet bis
gross exaggerations, they may well have been so court seems to have been at this time a great place
far founded in faci, that his intercourse with these of resort for philosophers and men of letters: be-
persons was interrupted by some sudden burst of sides Plato, whom he induced by the most urgent
capricious violence. (Diod. xv. 6, 7; Plut. Dion, 5; entreaties to pay him a second visit, Aristippus of
Lucian, aur. Indoct. $ 15; Tzetz. Chil. v. 152, dic. ; Cyrene, Eudoxus of Cnidus, Speusippus, and
but compare Athen. i. p. 6, f. ) He is also others, are stated to have spent some time with
said to have arenged himself upon Plato in a more him at Syracuse; and he cultivated a friendly in-
legitimate manner by writing a play against him. tercourse with Archytas and the Pythagoreanis of
(Tzetz. Chil. v. 182-185. )
Magna Graecia. (Plit. Dion, 18-20; Diog. Laërt.
The history of Dionysius was written by his ii. 21, 23 ; Aelian, 1'. H. iv. 18, vii. 17; Pseud. -
friend and contemporary Philistus, as well as by Plat. Epist. 6. ) Much doubt indeed attaches to
Ephorus and Timaeus; but none of these authors all the stories related by Plutarch and other late
Diodorus is our chief, indeed writers concerning the intercourse of Plato with
almost our sole, authority for the events of his Dionysius, but they can hardly have been altoge-
reign. An excellent review of his government and ther destitute of foundation.
character is given in Arnold's History of Rome. Dionysius was absent from Syracuse at the time
(Vol. i. c. 21. ) Mitford's elaborate account of his that Dion landed in Sicily: the news of that event
reign is rather an apology than a history, and is and of the sudden defection of the Syracusans
very inaccurate as well as partial. (E. H. B. ) reached him at Caulonia, and he instantly returned
DIONY'SICS (Alovídios) the Younger, tyrant to Syracuse, where the citadel still held out for
of SIRACUSE, son of the preceding, succeeded his him. But his attempts at negotiation having prov-
father in the possession of supreme power at Syra- ed abortive, the sallies of his troops having been re-
cuse, B. c. 367. Something like the form of a po- pulsed, and the fleet which Philistus had brought
pular election, or at least the confirmation of his to his succour having been defeated, he despaired
power by the people, appears to have been thought of success, and sailed away to Italy with his most
necessary ; but it could have been merely nominal, valuable property, leaving the citadel of Syracuse
as the amount of his mercenary force and the forti- in charge of his son, Apollocrates, B. c. 356. (Diod.
fications of the citadel secured him the virtual so- xvi. 11-13, 16, 17; Plut. Dion, 26–37. )
vereignty. (Diod. xv. 74. ) Dionysius was at this Dionysius now repaired to Locri, the native city
time under thirty years of age : he had been of liis mother, Doris, where he was received in the
brought up at his father's court in idleness and most friendly manner by the inhabitants—a confi-
luxury, and studiously precluded from taking any dence of which he availed himself to occupy the
part in public affairs. (Plut. Dion, 9. ) The con- citadel with an armed force, and thus to establish
sequences of this education were quickly manifested himself as tyrant of the city. This position he
as soon as he ascended the throne : the ascendancy continued to hold for several years, during which
which Dion, and through his means Plato, obtained period he is said to have treated the inhabitants
for a time over bis mind was undermined by fiat- with the utmost cruelty, at the same time that he
terers and the companions of his pleasures, who | indulged in the most extravagant licentiousness,
persuaded him to give himself up to the most un- (Justin, xxi. 2, 3; Clearch. ap. Athen. xii. p. 541;
bounded dissipation. Of the public events of his Strab. vi. p. 259; Aristot. Pol. v. 7. ) Meanwhile
reign, which lasted between eleven and twelve the reroluti ns which had taken place at Syracuse
years (Diod. 15. 73; Clinton, F. 11. ii. p. 8), seem to have prepared the way for his return.
we have rery little information : he seems to have The history of these is very imperfectly known to
succeeded to his father's intluence in the south of us: but, after the death of Dion, one tyrant fol-
Italy as well as to liis dominion in Sicily, and to lowed another with great rapidity. Callippus, the
have followed up his views in regard to the Adria-murderer of Dion, was in his turn driven from the
tic, for which end he founded two cities in Apulia. city by Hipparinus (son of the elder Dionysius by
We also find him sending a third auxiliary force Aristomache, and therefore nephew of Dion), who
to the assistance of the Lacednemonians. (Xen. reigned but two years: another of Dion's nephews,
are now extant.
## p. 1037 (#1057) ##########################################
DIONYSIUS.
1037
DIONYSIUS.
Nysaeus, subsequently obtained the supreme power, the most part to the period of their two reigns.
and was in possession of it when Dionysius pre Certain Punic coins, one of which is represented
sented himself before Syracuse with a fleet, and in the annexed cut, are commonly ascribed to the
became master of the city by trenchery. Accord younger Dionysius, but only on the authority of
ing to Plutarch, this took place in the tenth year Goltzius (a noted falsifier of coins and their in-
after his expulsion, B. C. 346. (Diod. xvi. 31, scriptions), who has published a similar coin with
36; Justin, xxi. 3; Athen. xi. p. 508; Plut. the name AIONTZIOT. [E. H. B. )
Timol. 1. ) The Locrians meanwhile took advan- DIONY'SIUS, PAPI'RIUS, praefectus an-
tage of his absence to revolt against him : they nonac under Commodus. Having procured by his
drove out the garrison which he had left, and intrigues the destruction of the favourite Cleander
wreaked their vengeance in the most cruel manner [CLEANDER], he himself soon after fell a victim
on his wife and daughters. (Strab. vi. p. 260 ; Cle- to the cruelty of the tyrant. (Dion Cass. lxxii.
arch. ap. Athen. xii. p. 541. ) Dionysius was not 13, 14. )
[W. R. ]
however able to reestablish himself firmly in his DIONY'SIUS ( Alovúolos ), literary. The
former power. Most of the other cities of Sicily number of persons of this name in the history of
had shaken off the yoke of Syracuse, and were Greek literature is very great. Meursins was the
governed severally by petty tyrants: one of these, first that collected a list of them and added some
Hicetas, who had established himself at Leontini, account of each (Gronov, Thesaur. Ant. Graec. x.
afforded a rallying point to the disaffected Syra- p. 577, &c. ); his list has been still further in-
cusans, with whom he joined in making war on creased by Ionsius (Hist. Philos. Script. iii. 6,
Dionysius, and succeeded in gaining possession of p. 42, &c. ), and by Fabricius (Bibl. Gr. iv. p. 405),
the greater part of the city, and blockading the so that at present upwards of one hundred persons
tyrant anew in the fortress on the island. It was of the name of Dionysius are known. The list
in this state of things that Timoleon arrived in given by Suidas is full of the utmost confusion.
Sicily. His arms were not indeed directed in the The following list contains all, with the exception
first instance against Dionysius, but against Hice of those mentioned in an isolated passage merely.
tas and his Carthaginian allies; but his rapid suc- 1. AELIUS DIONYSIUS, a Greek rhetorician of
cesses and the general respect entertained for his Halicarnassus, who lived in the time of the em-
character induced Dionysius, who was still block- peror Hadrian. He was a very skilful musician,
aded in the citadel, and appears to have abandoned and wrote several works on music and its history.
all hope of ultimate success, to treat with him ra- (Suid. s. v. Alovúolos. ) It is commonly supposed
ther than the opposite party.
a batile, withdren with his land forces, and shut 103–103, 111. ) The inhabitants of the conquered
himself up within the walls of Syracuse. Aban- cities were for the most part removed to Syracuse,
doned by the other Sicilian Greeks, and besieged and their territory given up to the Locrians.
by the Carthaginians both by sea and land, his Dionysius was now at the summit of his great-
situation appeared to be desperate. It is even said ness, and during the twenty years that elapsed
that he was on the point of giving up all for lost, from this period to his death, possessed an amount
and making his escape, but was deterred by one of of power and influence far exceeding those enjoyed
his friends observing, “that sovereign power was by any other Greek before the time of Alexander.
an honourable winding-sheet. ” (Isocrat. Archi- In Sicily he held undisputed rule over the eastern
dom. $ 49; Aelian. V. H. iv. 8; but compare half of the island, while the principal cities of the
Diod. xiv. 8. ) A pestilence shortly after broke interior and those along the north coast, as far as
out in the Carthaginian camp, which a second time Cephaloedium, were either subject to him, or held
proved the salvation of Syracuse. Dionysius alily by his close and dependent allies. (xiv. 78, 96. )
availed himseif of the state of weakness to which In Italy it is difficult to estimate the precise ex-
the enemy was thus reduced, and by a sudden tent of his influence: direci dominion he had ap-
attack both by sea and land, defeated the Cartha- parently none. But his allies, the Locrians, were
ginian army, and burnt great part of their fleet. masters of the whole southern extremity of the
Still he was glad to consent to a secret capitulation, peninsula, and his powerful fects gave him the
by which the Carthaginians themselves were allowed command both of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic
to depart unmolested, abandoning both their allies In the former le repressed the piracies of
and foreign mercenaries, who, thus left without a the Etruscans, and, under presence of retaliation,
leader, were quickly dispersed. (Diod. xiv. 41 led a fleet of 60 triremes against them, with which
–76. )
he took the town of Pyrgi, the port of Caere, and
No peace was concluded with Carthage upon plundered its wealthy temple of Matuta. (Diod.
this occasion ; but the effects of their laie disastrous xv. 14; Strab. V. p. 226; Pseud. -Aristot. Oeconom.
expedition, and the revolt of their subjects in | ii. 2. ) On this occasion he is also said to have
seas.
## p. 1035 (#1055) ##########################################
DIONYSIUS.
1035
DIONYSIUS.
&
assailed Corsica (Strab. l. c. ), but probably did not said even on the same day-Doris, a Locrian of
form any permanent establishment there. The distinguished birth, and Aristomache, a Syracusan,
sovereignty of the Adriatic seems to have been a the daughter of his old patron and supporter lip-
favourite object of his ambition. lle endeavoured parinus. (Diod. xiv. 44; Plut. Dion, 3. ) By the
to secure it by establishing a colony on the island former he had three children, of which the eldest
of Lissa, or, according to other accounts, at Lissus was his successor, Dionysius. Aristomache borc
in Epeirus (comp. Scymn. Chius, l. 412; Diod. him two sons, Hipparinus and Nysieus, and two
xv. 13, 14), where he kept up a considerable naval daughters, Sophrosyne and Arete. (Plut. Dion, 6;
force, and another at Adria in Picenum. (Etym. Corn. Nep. Dion, 1 ; Athen. X. pp. 433–6. )
Magn. s. l. , Aðplas. ) Ancona too was probably The character of Dionysius has been drawn in
founded by him at the same time. (Plin. 11. N. the blackest colours by many ancient writers ; he
ii. 13; Strab. v. p. 241; Arnold's Romc, vol. i. appears indeed to have become a sort of type of a
p. 437. ) With the same view he sent a squadron tyrant, in its worst sense, and it is probable that
to assist the Lacedaemonians in preventing the many of the anecdotes of him related by Cicero,
Athenians from establishing themselves at Corcyra, Aelian, Polynenus, and other later writers, are
B. C. 373. (Xen. Hell. vi. 2. SS 4, 33. ) The ex- grossly exaggerated; but the very circumstance
tent of his commercial relations may be inferred that he was so regarded in opposition to Gelon and
from his importing horses for his chariots from the others of the older tyrants (see Plut. Dion, 5) is in
Venetian tribes at the head of the Adriatic. (Strab. itself a proof that the opprobrium was not alto-
v. p. 212. ) As early as B. c. 402 he is mentioned gether undeserved. He was undoubtedly a man
as sending large supplies of corn to relieve a scarcity of great energy and activity of mind, as well as
at Rome. (Liv. iv. 52 ; Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. ii. great personal courage ; but he was altogether un-
p. 564. ) At the same time he took every oppor- scrupulous in the means which he employed to
tunity of extending his relations with foreign attain his ends, and had no thought beyond his
powers, and strengthening himself by alliances. own personal aggrandizement. Thus while lic
Thus we find him assisting the Illyrians against boasted that he left to his son an empire held to-
their neighbours the Molossians (Diod. xiv. 13), gether with bonds of iron (Plut. Dion, 7), he
and concluding a treaty with the Gauls, who had exhausted his subjects by excessive taxation, and
lately made their appearance in Italy, and who was obliged to have recourse to erery kind of ex-
continued from this time to furnish a considerable pedient to amass money. (Aristot. Pol. v. ll;
part of his mercenary troops. (Justin, xx. 5; Xen. Pseud. Aristot. Oeconom. ii. 2. The statements of
Hell. vii
. 1. $$ 20,31. ) In Greece itself he cultivated the latter must be received with caution, but they
the friendship of the Lacedaemonians, to whose are conclusive as to the general fact. ) Diodorus
support he had been greatly indebted in the earlier tells us that, when bis power became firmly esta-
days of his rule (Diod. xiv. 10, 70); and among blished, he abated much of his former severity (xiv.
the last acts of his reign was the sending an 45), and he gave a signal instance of clemency in
auxiliary force in two successive years to support his treatment of the Italian Greeks who had fallen
them against the increasing power of the Thebans. into his power at the battle of the Helorus. (Diod.
(Xen. Hell. vii. 1. %$ 20, 28; Diod. xv. 70. ) xiv. 105. ) But it is probable that the long pos-
He also conciliated, but by what means we know session of absolute power had an injurious effect
not, the farour of the Athenians, so that they be upon his character, and much apparent inconsist-
stowed
upon him the freedom of their city. (Epist. ency may be accounted for in this manner. In his
Philipp. ap. Dem. p. 176, ed. Bekk. )
latter years he became extremely suspicious, and
The peace with Carthage did not remain unin- apprehensive of treachery even from his nearest
terrupted during the whole of this period, but the friends, and is said to have adopted the most ex-
wars were not of any great importance, and are cessive precautions to guard against it. Many of
not known to us in detail
. In B. C. 383 the in these stories hare however an air of great exagge-
trigues of Dionysius with the subject allies of Car- ration. (Cic. Tusc. v. 20; Plut. Dion. 9. )
thage led to a renewal of hostilities. Two great Though his government was oppressive in a
battles, the sites of both of which are uncertain, financial point of view, Dionysius seems to have
decided the fortune of the war. In the first Diony- contributed much to the greatness of Syracuse it-
sius was completely victorious, and Mago, the Car- self, both by increasing the population with the
thaginian general, fell; but in the second the inhabitants removed from many conquered cities,
Syracusans were defeated with great slaughter. and by adorning it with splendid temples and other
Peace was concluded soon after, by which the river public edifices, so as to render it unquestionably
Halycus was fixed as the boundary of the two the greatest of all Greek cities. (Diod. xv. 13;
powers. (Diod. xv. 15–17. ) Dionysius seems Isocrat. Panegyr. $ 145. ) At the same time he
to have been again the aggressor in a fresh war displayed his magnificence by sending splendid
which broke out in B. c. 368, and in which he a deputations to the Olympic games, and rich pre-
second time advanced with his army to the extreme sents both to Olympia and Delphi. (Diod. xiv.
western point of Sicily, and laid siege to Lily- | 109, xvi. 57. ). Nor was he without literary am-
baeum. Hostilities were however suspended on bition. In the midst of his political and military
the approach of winter, and before they could be cares he devoted himself assiduously to poetry, and
resumed Dionysius died at Syracuse, B. c. 367. His not only caused his poems to be publicly recited at
last illness is said to have been brought on by ex- the Olympic games, but repeatedly contended for
cessive feasting ; but according to some accounts, the prize of tragedy at Athens. Here he several
his death was hastened by his medical attendants, times obtained the second and third prizes; and,
in order to secure the succession for his son. finally, just before his death, bore away the first
(Diod. xv. 74; Plut. Dion, 6; Corn. Nep. Dion, 2.
) prize at the Lenaea, with a play called “The Ran-
After the death of his first wife, Dionysius had som of Hector. " These honours seem to prove
married almost exactly at the same time-some that his poetry could not have been altogether so
## p. 1036 (#1056) ##########################################
1036
DIONYSIIS.
DIONYSII'S.
-
contemptible as it is represented by later writers ; | Tell. vii. 4. $ 12. ) But his character was peaceful
but only the titles of some of his dramas and a few and indolent; he listened to conclude by a treaty
detached lines are preserved to us. lleis especially the war with the Carthaginians, in which he found
Wamed for the use of far-fetched and unusual ex- himself engaged on his accession; and the only
pressions. (Diod. xiv. 109; xv. 74; Tzetz. Chil. other war that be undertook was one against tlie
v. 178-18. 5; Cic. Tusc. 1. 22; Lucian, uilt. Jus Lucanians, probably in defence of his Italian
doctum. $ 15; Heliadius, ap. Photium. p. 532, 1,. allies, which he also quickly bronght to a close.
cd. Bekk. )
Some fragments of his tragedies will (Diod. xvi. 5. ) Philistus, the historian, who, after
be found in Stobaeus (Florilcg. 38, 2; 38, 6; 49, 9; having been one of his father's chief supporters,
98, 30; 105, 2; 125, 8 ; Eclogue, i. 4, 19) and in had been subsequently banished by liim, enjoyed
Athenaeus. (ix. p. 401, f. )
the highest place in the confidence of the younger
In accordance with the same spirit we find him Dionysius, and appears to have been charged with
secking the society of men distinguished in litera- the conduct of all his military cnterprises. Notsvith-
ture and philosophy. entertaining the poet Philoxe- standing his advanced age, he is represented as
mms at liis tibile, patronizing the Pythagorean rather encouraging thian repressing the excesses of
philosophers, who were at this time numerous in Dionysius, and joining with the pairty who sought
Tully and Sicily, and inviting Plato to Syracuse. to overthrow the power of Dion, and ultimately
lle however soon after sent the latter away from succeeded in driving him into exile. The banisti-
Sicily in di grace; and though the story of his ment of Dion contributed to render Dionysius un-
having caused him to be sold as a slave, as well as popular among the Syracusans, who began also to
that of his having sent Philoxenus to the stone despise liim for his indolent and dissolute life, as
quarries for ridiculing his bad verses, are probably well as for his habitual drunkenness. Yet bis
gross exaggerations, they may well have been so court seems to have been at this time a great place
far founded in faci, that his intercourse with these of resort for philosophers and men of letters: be-
persons was interrupted by some sudden burst of sides Plato, whom he induced by the most urgent
capricious violence. (Diod. xv. 6, 7; Plut. Dion, 5; entreaties to pay him a second visit, Aristippus of
Lucian, aur. Indoct. $ 15; Tzetz. Chil. v. 152, dic. ; Cyrene, Eudoxus of Cnidus, Speusippus, and
but compare Athen. i. p. 6, f. ) He is also others, are stated to have spent some time with
said to have arenged himself upon Plato in a more him at Syracuse; and he cultivated a friendly in-
legitimate manner by writing a play against him. tercourse with Archytas and the Pythagoreanis of
(Tzetz. Chil. v. 182-185. )
Magna Graecia. (Plit. Dion, 18-20; Diog. Laërt.
The history of Dionysius was written by his ii. 21, 23 ; Aelian, 1'. H. iv. 18, vii. 17; Pseud. -
friend and contemporary Philistus, as well as by Plat. Epist. 6. ) Much doubt indeed attaches to
Ephorus and Timaeus; but none of these authors all the stories related by Plutarch and other late
Diodorus is our chief, indeed writers concerning the intercourse of Plato with
almost our sole, authority for the events of his Dionysius, but they can hardly have been altoge-
reign. An excellent review of his government and ther destitute of foundation.
character is given in Arnold's History of Rome. Dionysius was absent from Syracuse at the time
(Vol. i. c. 21. ) Mitford's elaborate account of his that Dion landed in Sicily: the news of that event
reign is rather an apology than a history, and is and of the sudden defection of the Syracusans
very inaccurate as well as partial. (E. H. B. ) reached him at Caulonia, and he instantly returned
DIONY'SICS (Alovídios) the Younger, tyrant to Syracuse, where the citadel still held out for
of SIRACUSE, son of the preceding, succeeded his him. But his attempts at negotiation having prov-
father in the possession of supreme power at Syra- ed abortive, the sallies of his troops having been re-
cuse, B. c. 367. Something like the form of a po- pulsed, and the fleet which Philistus had brought
pular election, or at least the confirmation of his to his succour having been defeated, he despaired
power by the people, appears to have been thought of success, and sailed away to Italy with his most
necessary ; but it could have been merely nominal, valuable property, leaving the citadel of Syracuse
as the amount of his mercenary force and the forti- in charge of his son, Apollocrates, B. c. 356. (Diod.
fications of the citadel secured him the virtual so- xvi. 11-13, 16, 17; Plut. Dion, 26–37. )
vereignty. (Diod. xv. 74. ) Dionysius was at this Dionysius now repaired to Locri, the native city
time under thirty years of age : he had been of liis mother, Doris, where he was received in the
brought up at his father's court in idleness and most friendly manner by the inhabitants—a confi-
luxury, and studiously precluded from taking any dence of which he availed himself to occupy the
part in public affairs. (Plut. Dion, 9. ) The con- citadel with an armed force, and thus to establish
sequences of this education were quickly manifested himself as tyrant of the city. This position he
as soon as he ascended the throne : the ascendancy continued to hold for several years, during which
which Dion, and through his means Plato, obtained period he is said to have treated the inhabitants
for a time over bis mind was undermined by fiat- with the utmost cruelty, at the same time that he
terers and the companions of his pleasures, who | indulged in the most extravagant licentiousness,
persuaded him to give himself up to the most un- (Justin, xxi. 2, 3; Clearch. ap. Athen. xii. p. 541;
bounded dissipation. Of the public events of his Strab. vi. p. 259; Aristot. Pol. v. 7. ) Meanwhile
reign, which lasted between eleven and twelve the reroluti ns which had taken place at Syracuse
years (Diod. 15. 73; Clinton, F. 11. ii. p. 8), seem to have prepared the way for his return.
we have rery little information : he seems to have The history of these is very imperfectly known to
succeeded to his father's intluence in the south of us: but, after the death of Dion, one tyrant fol-
Italy as well as to liis dominion in Sicily, and to lowed another with great rapidity. Callippus, the
have followed up his views in regard to the Adria-murderer of Dion, was in his turn driven from the
tic, for which end he founded two cities in Apulia. city by Hipparinus (son of the elder Dionysius by
We also find him sending a third auxiliary force Aristomache, and therefore nephew of Dion), who
to the assistance of the Lacednemonians. (Xen. reigned but two years: another of Dion's nephews,
are now extant.
## p. 1037 (#1057) ##########################################
DIONYSIUS.
1037
DIONYSIUS.
Nysaeus, subsequently obtained the supreme power, the most part to the period of their two reigns.
and was in possession of it when Dionysius pre Certain Punic coins, one of which is represented
sented himself before Syracuse with a fleet, and in the annexed cut, are commonly ascribed to the
became master of the city by trenchery. Accord younger Dionysius, but only on the authority of
ing to Plutarch, this took place in the tenth year Goltzius (a noted falsifier of coins and their in-
after his expulsion, B. C. 346. (Diod. xvi. 31, scriptions), who has published a similar coin with
36; Justin, xxi. 3; Athen. xi. p. 508; Plut. the name AIONTZIOT. [E. H. B. )
Timol. 1. ) The Locrians meanwhile took advan- DIONY'SIUS, PAPI'RIUS, praefectus an-
tage of his absence to revolt against him : they nonac under Commodus. Having procured by his
drove out the garrison which he had left, and intrigues the destruction of the favourite Cleander
wreaked their vengeance in the most cruel manner [CLEANDER], he himself soon after fell a victim
on his wife and daughters. (Strab. vi. p. 260 ; Cle- to the cruelty of the tyrant. (Dion Cass. lxxii.
arch. ap. Athen. xii. p. 541. ) Dionysius was not 13, 14. )
[W. R. ]
however able to reestablish himself firmly in his DIONY'SIUS ( Alovúolos ), literary. The
former power. Most of the other cities of Sicily number of persons of this name in the history of
had shaken off the yoke of Syracuse, and were Greek literature is very great. Meursins was the
governed severally by petty tyrants: one of these, first that collected a list of them and added some
Hicetas, who had established himself at Leontini, account of each (Gronov, Thesaur. Ant. Graec. x.
afforded a rallying point to the disaffected Syra- p. 577, &c. ); his list has been still further in-
cusans, with whom he joined in making war on creased by Ionsius (Hist. Philos. Script. iii. 6,
Dionysius, and succeeded in gaining possession of p. 42, &c. ), and by Fabricius (Bibl. Gr. iv. p. 405),
the greater part of the city, and blockading the so that at present upwards of one hundred persons
tyrant anew in the fortress on the island. It was of the name of Dionysius are known. The list
in this state of things that Timoleon arrived in given by Suidas is full of the utmost confusion.
Sicily. His arms were not indeed directed in the The following list contains all, with the exception
first instance against Dionysius, but against Hice of those mentioned in an isolated passage merely.
tas and his Carthaginian allies; but his rapid suc- 1. AELIUS DIONYSIUS, a Greek rhetorician of
cesses and the general respect entertained for his Halicarnassus, who lived in the time of the em-
character induced Dionysius, who was still block- peror Hadrian. He was a very skilful musician,
aded in the citadel, and appears to have abandoned and wrote several works on music and its history.
all hope of ultimate success, to treat with him ra- (Suid. s. v. Alovúolos. ) It is commonly supposed
ther than the opposite party.
