)
policy of the Sicilian tyrants, he removed from His intimacy with the latter was particularly cele
their native seats, and established them at Leon- brated (Pseud.
policy of the Sicilian tyrants, he removed from His intimacy with the latter was particularly cele
their native seats, and established them at Leon- brated (Pseud.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
131, vol.
ii.
p.
99; Pearson, Pro- tonist; but it is obviously the production of a very
legomena to Hierocles, p. xiii. ed. Need ham, who, insignificant person, who must have lived at a later
however, confounds our Hierocles with No. 5. ) time than the New Platonist. It was first pub-
5. A New Platonist, who lived at Alexandria lished by Marq. Freherus, Ladenburg, 1605, 8vo. ,
about the middle of the fifth century, and enjoyed and afterwards by J. A. Schier, Leipzig, 1750,
a very great reputation. He is commonly con- 8vo. ; it is also contained in Pearson's and Need-
sidered to be the author of a commentary on the ham's editions of the Commentary on Pythagoras,
golden verses of Pythagoras, which is still extant, and in J. de Rhoer's Observationes Philologicae,
and in which the author endeavours to give an Groningen, 1768, 8vo.
intelligible account of the philosophy of Pytha- 6. A Greek grammarian, who is known to us only
goras. The verses of Pythagoras form the basis, as the author of a work entitled Euvékõnuos, that is,
but the co mentator endeavours to give a suc- The Travelling Companion, which is intended as a
cinct view of the whole philosophy of Pythagoras, handbook for travellers through the provinces of the
whence his work is of some importance to us, and Eastern empire. It was probably written at the
may serve as a guide in the study of the Pytha- beginning of the sixth century of our era ; it con-
gorean philosophy. This commentary was first tains a list of 64 eparchiae or provinces of the East-
published in a Latin translation by J. Aurispa, em empire, and of 935 different towns, with brief
Padua, 1474, 4to. , and afterwards at Rome, 1475, descriptions, and is therefore of considerable import-
1493, 1495, 4to. , and at Basel, 1543, 8vo. The ance for the geography of those countries. The
Greek original with a new Latin version was first first edition in C. a S. Paulo, Geograph. Sacr. , Paris,
edited by J. Curterius, Paris, 1583, 12mo. A 1641, and Amsterdam, 1704, fol. , is incomplete.
better edition, incorporating also the fragments of Better editions are those in E. Schelstraten's Anti-
other works of Hierocles, was published by J. quitas Eccles. Illustr. , Rome, 1697, vol. ii. , and in
Pearson, London, 1654 and 1655, 4to. , and with vol. i. of Banduri's Imperium Orient. ; but by far
additions and improvements by P. Needham, Cam- the best edition is that of P. Wesseling, in his
bridge, 1709, 8vo. A still better edition of the Veterum Romanorum Itineraria, Amsterdam, 1735,
commentary alone is that by R. Warren, London, 4to. , p. 631, &c.
(L. S. )
1742, 8vo.
HIEROCLES ('lepoxinis), the author of a
Hierocles was further the author of an extensive treatise on veterinary surgery, of which only some
work entitled Περί Προνοίας και ειμαρμένης και fragments remain, which are to be found in the
του εφ' ημίν προς την θείαν ηγεμονίαν συντάξεως, | collection of writers on this subject, first published
that is, On Providence, Fate, and the reconciliation in Latin by Joannes Ruellius, Paris, 1530, fol. ,
of man's free will with the divine government of and afterwards in Greek by Simon Grynaens,
the world. The whole consisted of seven books, Basel, 1537, 4to. Nothing is known of the events
GG 3
## p. 454 (#470) ############################################
454
IIIERON.
. HIERON.
of his life, except that he is supposed to have been | and other colonists of Dorian origin ; and having
a lawyer by profession, and not a veterinary sur changed its name to Aetna, caused himself to be
geon, and to have lived in the tenth century after proclaimed the founder of the new city. (Diod. xi.
Christ, as he dedicated his work to Cassianus 49 ; Schol. ad Pind. Ol. i. 35, Pyth. i. 1, 120. )
Bassus. He is perhaps the same writer who is At a very early period of his reign also we find
gnoted in the Geoponica. An analysis of his him interposing in the affairs of the Greek cities in
opinions, so far as they can be gathered from the the south of Italy, and presenting the destruction
fragments that remain, is given by Haller in his of Locri by Anaxilas of Rhegium, which he appears
Biblioth. Medic. Pract. vol. i. p. 290 ; see also to have effected by the mere apprehension of his
Fabric. Bill. Gr. vol. vi. p. 497, ed. vet. (W. A. G. ) power, without having actually recourse to arms.
HIERON I. ('lépwr), tyrant of SYRACUSE, (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. i. 98, ii. 34. ) Some years
was son of Deinomenes and brother of Gelon, whom later he again interfered on behalf of the sons of
he succeeded in the sovereignty, B. C. 478. We the same Anaxilas, and by urging them to put for-
know scarcely any thing of his personal history ward their claim to the sovereign power, succeeded
previous to his accession, except that he supported in effecting the expulsion of Micythus from Rhe-
his brother in his various wars, and appears to gium. (Diod. xi. 66. ) The death of Theron in
have taken an active part in the great victory of B. c. 472, and the violence of his son Thrasydaeus,
Himera, as his share in the glory of that day was involved Hieron in hostilities with Agrigentum,
commemorated by Gelon himself in the inscription but he defeated Thrasydneus in a great battle,
at Delphi which recorded his triumph. (Schol. ad which contributed essentially to the downfal of
Pind. Pyth, i. 15. 5, ii. 115. ) It is stated by Dio- that tyrant ; and after his expulsion Hieron was
dorus (xi. 38) that Hieron was appointed by readily induced to grant peace to the Agrigentines.
Gelon as his successor, though it appears from (Diod. xi. 53. ) But by far the most important
other authorities that that prince left an infant son; event of his reign was the great victory which he
hence it may well be suspected that he assumed obtained over the Etruscan feet near Cumae (B. C.
the government in the first instance only in his 474), and which appears to have effectually broken
nephew's name, and subsequently took possession the naval power of that nation. The Etruscans had
of it for himself. In either case it is clear that he attacked Cumae and the neighbouring Greek settle-
was virtually sovereign of Syracuse from the time ments in Campania with a powerful fleet, and the
of Gelon's death, but his rule was soon distin- Cumaeans invoked the assistance of Hieron, who,
guished from that of his brother by its greater though suffering at the time from illness, appears
severity and more tyrannical character. Its tran- to have commanded in person the fleet which he
quillity was early disturbed by his jealousy of his destined to their support. (Pind. Pyth. i. 137 ;
brother Polyzelus, to whom Gelon had left the and Schol. ad loc. ; Diod. xi. 51. ) of the victory
command of the army and the hand of his widow he there obtained, and which was celebrated by
Demarete. This connection secured to Polyzelus Pindar, an interesting memorial has been preserved
the powerful support of Theron of Agrigentum (the to our own days, in a bronze helmet found at
father of Demarete), and, united with his great Olympia in 1817, and now in the British Museum,
popularity, sufficed to render him an object of sus- which appears from the inscription it bears to have
picion to Hieron. The latter is said to have em- formed part of the spoils consecrated by Hieron on
ployed him in a military expedition against the this occasion to the Olympian Zeus. (Rose, Incr.
Sybarites in Italy, or, according to another account, Graec. Vetust. p. 66 ; Boeckh's Pindar, vol. iii. p.
in Sicily itself, in hopes that he might perish in 225. ). It was probably after this victory that he
the war.
The failure of this design led to an open sent the colony to Pithecusa or Ischia, mentioned
rupture between the two brothers, and Polyzelus by Strabo (v. p. 248. )
took refuge with Theron, who is said to have been How far the internal prosperity of Syracuse,
preparing to support him by arms, when a reconcili- under the rule of Hieron, corresponded with this
ation was effected, and a treaty of peace concluded external show of power we have no means of
between him and Hieron, which is attributed by judging, but all accounts agree in representing his
some accounts to the intervention of the poet government as much more despotic than that of
Simonides. (Schol. ad Pind. Ol. ii. 29, 37. ) AC-Gelon. He fortified his power by the maintenance
cording to Diodorus (xi. 48), on the contrary, it of a large guard of mercenary troops, and evinced
was owing to the conduct of Hieron himself, who, the suspicious character of a tyrant by the employ-
instead of listening to the overtures of the citizens ment of numerous spies and informers. (Arist.
of Himera, and espousing their cause against The- Pol. v. 11; Diod. xi. 48, 67 ; but comp. Plut. de
ron, gave him information of their designs; in Ser. Num. Vind.
p.
551. ) In one respect, how-
gratitude for which, Theron abandoned his hostile ever, he was superior to his brother in the liberal
intentions. By the treaty thus concluded, Poly- and enlightened patronage that he extended to men
zelus was restored to his former position at Syra- of letters, which has contributed very much to cast
cuse, while Hieron himself married a sister of the a lustre over his name. His court became the
Agrigentine ruler. (Schol ad Pind. l. c. ) resort of the most distinguished poets and philoso-
Our information concerning the events of the phers of the day. Aeschylus, Pindar, and Bacchy-
reign of Hieron is very imperfect, but the detached lides are recorded as having taken up their abode
and fragmentary notices which alone remain to us with him, and we find him associating in friendly
attest the great power and influence that he must intercourse with Xenophanes, Epicharmus, and
have possessed. In Sicily he made himself master Simonides. (Aelian. V. H. iv. 15; Paus. i. 2. $
of the powerful cities of Naxos and Catana, the 3 ; Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. ii. 131, 167; Athen.
inhabitants of which, according to a favourite iii. p. 121, xiv. p. 656 ; Plut. Apophth. p. 175.
)
policy of the Sicilian tyrants, he removed from His intimacy with the latter was particularly cele
their native seats, and established them at Leon- brated (Pseud. Plat. Epist. 2), and has been made
tini, while he repeopled Catana with Syracusans, the subject by Xenophon of an imaginary dialogue
## p. 455 (#471) ############################################
HIERON.
455
HIERON.
d Earing
self to be
(Diod i.
1, 120. )
o we end
-k cties is
destruction
he appear
sion of his
Some pean
the soos de
i to patients
; succeeded
from Roe
i Therer in
hrasydazor
AgtigEONES
Teat bazt,
danial of
Hieroa res
grigentines
i important
T which be
Cumae (a
nlly takes
truscars had
Greek seti's
et, and the
fieron, sba
ress, appears
et which be
. i. 137 ;
the victory
elebrated by
en preserved
det found at
ish Museos,
bears to have
Hieroa da
entitled the Hieron (Xen. Opp. tom. v. ed. Schnei- opportunity during the war with the Mamertines
der), but, from the advice there put into the mouth (who, after the departure of Pyrrhus, had attacked
of the philosopher, as well as from the hints inter the Syracusans), to abandon these troops to the
spersed by Pindar, in the midst of his praises and enemy, by whom they were almost all cut to
flatteries, we may gather that there was much to pieces, while Hieron, with the Syracusan citizens,
disapprove of in the conduct of Hieron towards who had kept aloof from the combat, effected in
his subjects and dependants. (See Boeckh, ad safety his retreat to Syracuse. Here he immediately
Pind. Pyth. i. 81–88. ) His love of magnificence proceeded to levy a new army, and as soon as he
was especially displayed, as was the custom of the had organised these troops, marched forth to chas
day, in the great contests of the Grecian games, tise the Mamertines, who were naturally elated
and his victories at Olympia and Delphi have been with their victory. He soon drove them out of all
immortalised by Pindar. He also sent, in imitation the territory they had conquered, took the cities of
of his brother Gelon, splendid offerings to the Mylae and Alaesz, while those of Tyndaris, Aba-
sanctuary at Delphi. (Paus. vi. 12. § 1; Athen. caenum, and Tauromenium, declared in his favour.
vi p. 231, 232. ).
The Mamertines, thus hemmed in in a comer of
We are told that Hieron was afflicted during the the island, ventured on a pitched battle at the
latter years of his life by the stone, and that painful river Longanus, but were totally defeated, their
malady was probably the cause of his death, which leader, Cios, taken prisoner, and Messana itself
took place at Catana, in the twelfth year of his would have probably fallen into the hands of
reign, B. C. 467. (Schol
. ad Pind. Ol. i. 1, Pyth. Hieron, had not the intervention of the Carthagi-
i. 89, iii. 1 ; Plut. de Pyth. Orac. 19; Diod. xi. nians prevailed on him to grant a peace to his
38, 66. ) Aristotle, indeed, says that he reigned humbled enemies. On his return from this glorious
only ten years (Pol. v. 12), but the dates of Dio- expedition, Hieron was saluted by his fellow-
dorus, which are consistent with one another, are citizens with the title of king, B. c. 270. (Polyb.
confirmed by the scholiast on Pindar, and have i. 8, 9; Diod. Exc. Hoesch. xxii. p. 499, 500. )
been justly preferred by Clinton (F. H. vol. Ü. p. The chronology of these events is not very clear
38, 267). He was interred with much pomp at (see Paus. vi. 12. & 2 ; Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p.
Catana, and obtained heroic honours as the new 267 ; and Droysen, Hellenism. vol. ii. p. 268, nol. ),
founder of that city, but his tomb was subsequently but if the date above assigned for the commence-
destroyed by the old inhabitants, when they re- ment of the reign of Hieron be correct, it was in
turned thither, after the expulsion of the Aetnaean the year preceding his elevation to the royal dig-
colonists. (Diod. xi. 66 ; Strab. vi. p. 268. ) He nity (B. C. 272), that he assisted the Romans
bad one son, Deinomenes, by his first wife, a during the siege of Rhegium with supplies of corn,
daughter of Nicocles, a Syracusan : by his subse- as well as with an auxiliary force. (Zonar. viii. 6. )
quent marriage with the sister of Theron already We know nothing more of his proceedings from
mentioned he left no issue. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. this time until the year 264, nor can we clearly
i. 112. ) The scholiast here calls her the cousin discover the relations in which he stood, either
(dyeyla) of Theron, but she is elsewhere repeatedly towards Carthage or Rome ; it is said indeed that
termed his sister (ad Ol. ïi. 29, 37). [E. H. B. ] the assistance furnished by him to the latter had
HIERON II. , king of SYRACUSE, was the son given umbrage to the Carthaginians (Dion Cass.
of Hierocles, a Syracusan of illustrious birth, who Frag. Vat. 57 ; Zonar, viï. 6), and rendered them
claimed descent from the great Gelon, the victor at unfavourable to Hieron, but this disposition did
Himera. He was however illegitimate, being the not break out into actual hostilities. His great
offspring of a female servant, in consequence of object seems still to have been the complete ex-
which it is said that he was exposed as an infant, pulsion of the Mamertines from Sicily ; and when,
but that some omens prophetic of his future great in 264, the Romans for the first time interposed in
ness caused his father to relent, and bring him up favour of that people, his indignation at their in-
with care and attention. (Justin. xxiii. 4; Zonar. terference led him to throw himself at once into
viji. 6. ) The year of his birth cannot be fixed the arms of the Carthaginians, with whom he con-
with certainty, but it must have taken place before cluded an alliance, and united his forces with those
B. C. 306; hence he was at least thirty years old of Hanno, who had just arrived in Sicily, at the
when the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily (B. C. head of a large army. (HANNO, No. 8. ] With
275) left the Syracusans without a leader. Hieron their combined forces they proceeded to lay siege
had already distinguished himself in the wars of to Messana both by sea and land, but they failed
that monarch, and had acquired so much favour in preventing the Roman consul, Appius Claudius,
with the soldiery, that the Syracusan army, on oc- from crossing the straits with his army. He landed
casion of some dispute with the people of the city, near the Syracusan camp, and Hieron gave him
appointed him, together with Artemidorus, to be battle the next day, but met with a partial defeat ;
their general ; and he had the skill and address to and, alarmed at the aspect of affairs, and mistrust-
procure the ratification of his command from the i ing the faith of his allies, suddenly withdrew with
people, and conciliate the affections of the mul- all his forces to Syracuse. Thither, after some
titude as effectually as he had those of the soldiers. interval, Claudius followed him, and ravaged the
But his ambition did not stop here. By his mar- open country up to the very walls, but was unable
riage with the daughter of Leptines, at that time to effect any thing against the city itself, and was
unquestionably the most distinguished and influ- compelled by the breaking out of a pestilential dis-
ential citizen at Syracuse, he secured for himself order in his army to retreat. The next year (B. C.
the most powerful support in the councils of the 263) hostilities were renewed by the Romans, and
republic. But he felt that he could not rely on the consuls, Otacilius and Valerius, not only laid
the army of mercenaries, which, though they had waste the Syracusan territory, but took many of
been the first to raise him to power, be well knew their smaller and dependent towns ; and Hieron,
to be fickle and treacherous ; he therefore took an finding himself unable to cope single-handed with
G G4
(Rose, Inc.
ar, vol. il.
3
story that je
iz ment saed
of Srracuse,
ded with this
no means of
presenting his
than that of
de maintenance
$, and erined
by the emplo
mers. (Irish
comp. Plat de
- respect, bos.
in the liberal
rtended to Det
ery much to cast
art became the
Jets and Nilo
dar, and Barhr-
71 up their stode
ating in friends
Epicharros
, and
5; Pacs i :
131, 167; Ashes.
I popstå. p. 173)
s particularis cele
and has been made
imaginary dialya
## p. 456 (#472) ############################################
456
HIERON.
HIERON.
the Roman power, and seeing little hope of assist- symene, he hastened to send to Rome a large supe
ance from Carthage, concluded a peace with Rome. ply of com, as well as a body of light-armed
The terms of the treaty were on the whole suf- auxiliaries, and a golden statue of Victory, which
ficiently favourable ; Hieron retained possession of was consecrated by the Romans in the capitol.
• the whole south-east of Sicily, and the eastern side (Liv. xxi. 49–51, xxji. 37 ; Zopar, viï. 26 ; Val.
of the island as far as Tauromenium, advantages Max. iv. 8. ) The still heavier disaster of Cannae
which were cheaply purchased by the surrender of in the following year (B. c. 216) appears to bave
his prisoners and the payment of a large sum of produced as little change in his disposition towards
money. (Polyb. i. 11, 12, 15, 16; Diod. Exc. the contending powers ; and one of the last acts of
Hoesch. xxiii. 2, 4, 5; Zonar. viii. 9 ; Oros. iv. 7. ) his life was the sending a large supply of money
From this time till his death, a period of little and corn to the raetor T. Otacilius. (Liv.
less than half a century, Hieron continued the xxiii. 21. ) The date
his death is nowhere ex-
sted fast friend and ally of the Romans, a policy of pressly mentioned, but it seems clear that it must
which his subjects as well as himself reaped the have occurred before the end of the year 216. (See
benefits, in the enjoyment of a state of tranquillity Clinton, F. II. vol. ii. p. 267. ). According to
and prosperity such as they had never before Lucian (Macrob. 10), he had attained the age of
known for so long a period. But such an interval ninety-two: both Polybiuis and Livy speak of him
of peace and quiet naturally affords ſew materinls as not less than ninety. (Polyb. vii. 8 ; Liv. xxiv.
for history, and our knowledge of the remainder of 4. ) Pausanias, who asserts that he was murdered
Hieron's long life is almost confined to the inter- by Deinomenes (vi. 12. $ 4), has evidently con-
change of good offices between him and the founded him with his grandson Hieronymus.
Romans, which cemented and confirmed their It was not towards the Romans alone that
friendship. During the first Punic war he was Hieron displayed his wealth and munificence in so
frequently called upon to render important services liberal a manner. His eyes were ever turned
to his new allies ; in B. C. 262, by the zeal and towards Greece itself, and he sought to attract the
energy which he displayed in furnishing supplies attention and conciliate the favour of the Greek
to the Roman consuls before Agrigentum, he en- nation not only by costly offerings at Olympia and
abled them to continue the siege, and ultimately other places of national resort, but by coming
effect the reduction of that important fortress. forward readily to the assistance of all who needed
(Polyb.
legomena to Hierocles, p. xiii. ed. Need ham, who, insignificant person, who must have lived at a later
however, confounds our Hierocles with No. 5. ) time than the New Platonist. It was first pub-
5. A New Platonist, who lived at Alexandria lished by Marq. Freherus, Ladenburg, 1605, 8vo. ,
about the middle of the fifth century, and enjoyed and afterwards by J. A. Schier, Leipzig, 1750,
a very great reputation. He is commonly con- 8vo. ; it is also contained in Pearson's and Need-
sidered to be the author of a commentary on the ham's editions of the Commentary on Pythagoras,
golden verses of Pythagoras, which is still extant, and in J. de Rhoer's Observationes Philologicae,
and in which the author endeavours to give an Groningen, 1768, 8vo.
intelligible account of the philosophy of Pytha- 6. A Greek grammarian, who is known to us only
goras. The verses of Pythagoras form the basis, as the author of a work entitled Euvékõnuos, that is,
but the co mentator endeavours to give a suc- The Travelling Companion, which is intended as a
cinct view of the whole philosophy of Pythagoras, handbook for travellers through the provinces of the
whence his work is of some importance to us, and Eastern empire. It was probably written at the
may serve as a guide in the study of the Pytha- beginning of the sixth century of our era ; it con-
gorean philosophy. This commentary was first tains a list of 64 eparchiae or provinces of the East-
published in a Latin translation by J. Aurispa, em empire, and of 935 different towns, with brief
Padua, 1474, 4to. , and afterwards at Rome, 1475, descriptions, and is therefore of considerable import-
1493, 1495, 4to. , and at Basel, 1543, 8vo. The ance for the geography of those countries. The
Greek original with a new Latin version was first first edition in C. a S. Paulo, Geograph. Sacr. , Paris,
edited by J. Curterius, Paris, 1583, 12mo. A 1641, and Amsterdam, 1704, fol. , is incomplete.
better edition, incorporating also the fragments of Better editions are those in E. Schelstraten's Anti-
other works of Hierocles, was published by J. quitas Eccles. Illustr. , Rome, 1697, vol. ii. , and in
Pearson, London, 1654 and 1655, 4to. , and with vol. i. of Banduri's Imperium Orient. ; but by far
additions and improvements by P. Needham, Cam- the best edition is that of P. Wesseling, in his
bridge, 1709, 8vo. A still better edition of the Veterum Romanorum Itineraria, Amsterdam, 1735,
commentary alone is that by R. Warren, London, 4to. , p. 631, &c.
(L. S. )
1742, 8vo.
HIEROCLES ('lepoxinis), the author of a
Hierocles was further the author of an extensive treatise on veterinary surgery, of which only some
work entitled Περί Προνοίας και ειμαρμένης και fragments remain, which are to be found in the
του εφ' ημίν προς την θείαν ηγεμονίαν συντάξεως, | collection of writers on this subject, first published
that is, On Providence, Fate, and the reconciliation in Latin by Joannes Ruellius, Paris, 1530, fol. ,
of man's free will with the divine government of and afterwards in Greek by Simon Grynaens,
the world. The whole consisted of seven books, Basel, 1537, 4to. Nothing is known of the events
GG 3
## p. 454 (#470) ############################################
454
IIIERON.
. HIERON.
of his life, except that he is supposed to have been | and other colonists of Dorian origin ; and having
a lawyer by profession, and not a veterinary sur changed its name to Aetna, caused himself to be
geon, and to have lived in the tenth century after proclaimed the founder of the new city. (Diod. xi.
Christ, as he dedicated his work to Cassianus 49 ; Schol. ad Pind. Ol. i. 35, Pyth. i. 1, 120. )
Bassus. He is perhaps the same writer who is At a very early period of his reign also we find
gnoted in the Geoponica. An analysis of his him interposing in the affairs of the Greek cities in
opinions, so far as they can be gathered from the the south of Italy, and presenting the destruction
fragments that remain, is given by Haller in his of Locri by Anaxilas of Rhegium, which he appears
Biblioth. Medic. Pract. vol. i. p. 290 ; see also to have effected by the mere apprehension of his
Fabric. Bill. Gr. vol. vi. p. 497, ed. vet. (W. A. G. ) power, without having actually recourse to arms.
HIERON I. ('lépwr), tyrant of SYRACUSE, (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. i. 98, ii. 34. ) Some years
was son of Deinomenes and brother of Gelon, whom later he again interfered on behalf of the sons of
he succeeded in the sovereignty, B. C. 478. We the same Anaxilas, and by urging them to put for-
know scarcely any thing of his personal history ward their claim to the sovereign power, succeeded
previous to his accession, except that he supported in effecting the expulsion of Micythus from Rhe-
his brother in his various wars, and appears to gium. (Diod. xi. 66. ) The death of Theron in
have taken an active part in the great victory of B. c. 472, and the violence of his son Thrasydaeus,
Himera, as his share in the glory of that day was involved Hieron in hostilities with Agrigentum,
commemorated by Gelon himself in the inscription but he defeated Thrasydneus in a great battle,
at Delphi which recorded his triumph. (Schol. ad which contributed essentially to the downfal of
Pind. Pyth, i. 15. 5, ii. 115. ) It is stated by Dio- that tyrant ; and after his expulsion Hieron was
dorus (xi. 38) that Hieron was appointed by readily induced to grant peace to the Agrigentines.
Gelon as his successor, though it appears from (Diod. xi. 53. ) But by far the most important
other authorities that that prince left an infant son; event of his reign was the great victory which he
hence it may well be suspected that he assumed obtained over the Etruscan feet near Cumae (B. C.
the government in the first instance only in his 474), and which appears to have effectually broken
nephew's name, and subsequently took possession the naval power of that nation. The Etruscans had
of it for himself. In either case it is clear that he attacked Cumae and the neighbouring Greek settle-
was virtually sovereign of Syracuse from the time ments in Campania with a powerful fleet, and the
of Gelon's death, but his rule was soon distin- Cumaeans invoked the assistance of Hieron, who,
guished from that of his brother by its greater though suffering at the time from illness, appears
severity and more tyrannical character. Its tran- to have commanded in person the fleet which he
quillity was early disturbed by his jealousy of his destined to their support. (Pind. Pyth. i. 137 ;
brother Polyzelus, to whom Gelon had left the and Schol. ad loc. ; Diod. xi. 51. ) of the victory
command of the army and the hand of his widow he there obtained, and which was celebrated by
Demarete. This connection secured to Polyzelus Pindar, an interesting memorial has been preserved
the powerful support of Theron of Agrigentum (the to our own days, in a bronze helmet found at
father of Demarete), and, united with his great Olympia in 1817, and now in the British Museum,
popularity, sufficed to render him an object of sus- which appears from the inscription it bears to have
picion to Hieron. The latter is said to have em- formed part of the spoils consecrated by Hieron on
ployed him in a military expedition against the this occasion to the Olympian Zeus. (Rose, Incr.
Sybarites in Italy, or, according to another account, Graec. Vetust. p. 66 ; Boeckh's Pindar, vol. iii. p.
in Sicily itself, in hopes that he might perish in 225. ). It was probably after this victory that he
the war.
The failure of this design led to an open sent the colony to Pithecusa or Ischia, mentioned
rupture between the two brothers, and Polyzelus by Strabo (v. p. 248. )
took refuge with Theron, who is said to have been How far the internal prosperity of Syracuse,
preparing to support him by arms, when a reconcili- under the rule of Hieron, corresponded with this
ation was effected, and a treaty of peace concluded external show of power we have no means of
between him and Hieron, which is attributed by judging, but all accounts agree in representing his
some accounts to the intervention of the poet government as much more despotic than that of
Simonides. (Schol. ad Pind. Ol. ii. 29, 37. ) AC-Gelon. He fortified his power by the maintenance
cording to Diodorus (xi. 48), on the contrary, it of a large guard of mercenary troops, and evinced
was owing to the conduct of Hieron himself, who, the suspicious character of a tyrant by the employ-
instead of listening to the overtures of the citizens ment of numerous spies and informers. (Arist.
of Himera, and espousing their cause against The- Pol. v. 11; Diod. xi. 48, 67 ; but comp. Plut. de
ron, gave him information of their designs; in Ser. Num. Vind.
p.
551. ) In one respect, how-
gratitude for which, Theron abandoned his hostile ever, he was superior to his brother in the liberal
intentions. By the treaty thus concluded, Poly- and enlightened patronage that he extended to men
zelus was restored to his former position at Syra- of letters, which has contributed very much to cast
cuse, while Hieron himself married a sister of the a lustre over his name. His court became the
Agrigentine ruler. (Schol ad Pind. l. c. ) resort of the most distinguished poets and philoso-
Our information concerning the events of the phers of the day. Aeschylus, Pindar, and Bacchy-
reign of Hieron is very imperfect, but the detached lides are recorded as having taken up their abode
and fragmentary notices which alone remain to us with him, and we find him associating in friendly
attest the great power and influence that he must intercourse with Xenophanes, Epicharmus, and
have possessed. In Sicily he made himself master Simonides. (Aelian. V. H. iv. 15; Paus. i. 2. $
of the powerful cities of Naxos and Catana, the 3 ; Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. ii. 131, 167; Athen.
inhabitants of which, according to a favourite iii. p. 121, xiv. p. 656 ; Plut. Apophth. p. 175.
)
policy of the Sicilian tyrants, he removed from His intimacy with the latter was particularly cele
their native seats, and established them at Leon- brated (Pseud. Plat. Epist. 2), and has been made
tini, while he repeopled Catana with Syracusans, the subject by Xenophon of an imaginary dialogue
## p. 455 (#471) ############################################
HIERON.
455
HIERON.
d Earing
self to be
(Diod i.
1, 120. )
o we end
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i important
T which be
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truscars had
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fieron, sba
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et which be
. i. 137 ;
the victory
elebrated by
en preserved
det found at
ish Museos,
bears to have
Hieroa da
entitled the Hieron (Xen. Opp. tom. v. ed. Schnei- opportunity during the war with the Mamertines
der), but, from the advice there put into the mouth (who, after the departure of Pyrrhus, had attacked
of the philosopher, as well as from the hints inter the Syracusans), to abandon these troops to the
spersed by Pindar, in the midst of his praises and enemy, by whom they were almost all cut to
flatteries, we may gather that there was much to pieces, while Hieron, with the Syracusan citizens,
disapprove of in the conduct of Hieron towards who had kept aloof from the combat, effected in
his subjects and dependants. (See Boeckh, ad safety his retreat to Syracuse. Here he immediately
Pind. Pyth. i. 81–88. ) His love of magnificence proceeded to levy a new army, and as soon as he
was especially displayed, as was the custom of the had organised these troops, marched forth to chas
day, in the great contests of the Grecian games, tise the Mamertines, who were naturally elated
and his victories at Olympia and Delphi have been with their victory. He soon drove them out of all
immortalised by Pindar. He also sent, in imitation the territory they had conquered, took the cities of
of his brother Gelon, splendid offerings to the Mylae and Alaesz, while those of Tyndaris, Aba-
sanctuary at Delphi. (Paus. vi. 12. § 1; Athen. caenum, and Tauromenium, declared in his favour.
vi p. 231, 232. ).
The Mamertines, thus hemmed in in a comer of
We are told that Hieron was afflicted during the the island, ventured on a pitched battle at the
latter years of his life by the stone, and that painful river Longanus, but were totally defeated, their
malady was probably the cause of his death, which leader, Cios, taken prisoner, and Messana itself
took place at Catana, in the twelfth year of his would have probably fallen into the hands of
reign, B. C. 467. (Schol
. ad Pind. Ol. i. 1, Pyth. Hieron, had not the intervention of the Carthagi-
i. 89, iii. 1 ; Plut. de Pyth. Orac. 19; Diod. xi. nians prevailed on him to grant a peace to his
38, 66. ) Aristotle, indeed, says that he reigned humbled enemies. On his return from this glorious
only ten years (Pol. v. 12), but the dates of Dio- expedition, Hieron was saluted by his fellow-
dorus, which are consistent with one another, are citizens with the title of king, B. c. 270. (Polyb.
confirmed by the scholiast on Pindar, and have i. 8, 9; Diod. Exc. Hoesch. xxii. p. 499, 500. )
been justly preferred by Clinton (F. H. vol. Ü. p. The chronology of these events is not very clear
38, 267). He was interred with much pomp at (see Paus. vi. 12. & 2 ; Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p.
Catana, and obtained heroic honours as the new 267 ; and Droysen, Hellenism. vol. ii. p. 268, nol. ),
founder of that city, but his tomb was subsequently but if the date above assigned for the commence-
destroyed by the old inhabitants, when they re- ment of the reign of Hieron be correct, it was in
turned thither, after the expulsion of the Aetnaean the year preceding his elevation to the royal dig-
colonists. (Diod. xi. 66 ; Strab. vi. p. 268. ) He nity (B. C. 272), that he assisted the Romans
bad one son, Deinomenes, by his first wife, a during the siege of Rhegium with supplies of corn,
daughter of Nicocles, a Syracusan : by his subse- as well as with an auxiliary force. (Zonar. viii. 6. )
quent marriage with the sister of Theron already We know nothing more of his proceedings from
mentioned he left no issue. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. this time until the year 264, nor can we clearly
i. 112. ) The scholiast here calls her the cousin discover the relations in which he stood, either
(dyeyla) of Theron, but she is elsewhere repeatedly towards Carthage or Rome ; it is said indeed that
termed his sister (ad Ol. ïi. 29, 37). [E. H. B. ] the assistance furnished by him to the latter had
HIERON II. , king of SYRACUSE, was the son given umbrage to the Carthaginians (Dion Cass.
of Hierocles, a Syracusan of illustrious birth, who Frag. Vat. 57 ; Zonar, viï. 6), and rendered them
claimed descent from the great Gelon, the victor at unfavourable to Hieron, but this disposition did
Himera. He was however illegitimate, being the not break out into actual hostilities. His great
offspring of a female servant, in consequence of object seems still to have been the complete ex-
which it is said that he was exposed as an infant, pulsion of the Mamertines from Sicily ; and when,
but that some omens prophetic of his future great in 264, the Romans for the first time interposed in
ness caused his father to relent, and bring him up favour of that people, his indignation at their in-
with care and attention. (Justin. xxiii. 4; Zonar. terference led him to throw himself at once into
viji. 6. ) The year of his birth cannot be fixed the arms of the Carthaginians, with whom he con-
with certainty, but it must have taken place before cluded an alliance, and united his forces with those
B. C. 306; hence he was at least thirty years old of Hanno, who had just arrived in Sicily, at the
when the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily (B. C. head of a large army. (HANNO, No. 8. ] With
275) left the Syracusans without a leader. Hieron their combined forces they proceeded to lay siege
had already distinguished himself in the wars of to Messana both by sea and land, but they failed
that monarch, and had acquired so much favour in preventing the Roman consul, Appius Claudius,
with the soldiery, that the Syracusan army, on oc- from crossing the straits with his army. He landed
casion of some dispute with the people of the city, near the Syracusan camp, and Hieron gave him
appointed him, together with Artemidorus, to be battle the next day, but met with a partial defeat ;
their general ; and he had the skill and address to and, alarmed at the aspect of affairs, and mistrust-
procure the ratification of his command from the i ing the faith of his allies, suddenly withdrew with
people, and conciliate the affections of the mul- all his forces to Syracuse. Thither, after some
titude as effectually as he had those of the soldiers. interval, Claudius followed him, and ravaged the
But his ambition did not stop here. By his mar- open country up to the very walls, but was unable
riage with the daughter of Leptines, at that time to effect any thing against the city itself, and was
unquestionably the most distinguished and influ- compelled by the breaking out of a pestilential dis-
ential citizen at Syracuse, he secured for himself order in his army to retreat. The next year (B. C.
the most powerful support in the councils of the 263) hostilities were renewed by the Romans, and
republic. But he felt that he could not rely on the consuls, Otacilius and Valerius, not only laid
the army of mercenaries, which, though they had waste the Syracusan territory, but took many of
been the first to raise him to power, be well knew their smaller and dependent towns ; and Hieron,
to be fickle and treacherous ; he therefore took an finding himself unable to cope single-handed with
G G4
(Rose, Inc.
ar, vol. il.
3
story that je
iz ment saed
of Srracuse,
ded with this
no means of
presenting his
than that of
de maintenance
$, and erined
by the emplo
mers. (Irish
comp. Plat de
- respect, bos.
in the liberal
rtended to Det
ery much to cast
art became the
Jets and Nilo
dar, and Barhr-
71 up their stode
ating in friends
Epicharros
, and
5; Pacs i :
131, 167; Ashes.
I popstå. p. 173)
s particularis cele
and has been made
imaginary dialya
## p. 456 (#472) ############################################
456
HIERON.
HIERON.
the Roman power, and seeing little hope of assist- symene, he hastened to send to Rome a large supe
ance from Carthage, concluded a peace with Rome. ply of com, as well as a body of light-armed
The terms of the treaty were on the whole suf- auxiliaries, and a golden statue of Victory, which
ficiently favourable ; Hieron retained possession of was consecrated by the Romans in the capitol.
• the whole south-east of Sicily, and the eastern side (Liv. xxi. 49–51, xxji. 37 ; Zopar, viï. 26 ; Val.
of the island as far as Tauromenium, advantages Max. iv. 8. ) The still heavier disaster of Cannae
which were cheaply purchased by the surrender of in the following year (B. c. 216) appears to bave
his prisoners and the payment of a large sum of produced as little change in his disposition towards
money. (Polyb. i. 11, 12, 15, 16; Diod. Exc. the contending powers ; and one of the last acts of
Hoesch. xxiii. 2, 4, 5; Zonar. viii. 9 ; Oros. iv. 7. ) his life was the sending a large supply of money
From this time till his death, a period of little and corn to the raetor T. Otacilius. (Liv.
less than half a century, Hieron continued the xxiii. 21. ) The date
his death is nowhere ex-
sted fast friend and ally of the Romans, a policy of pressly mentioned, but it seems clear that it must
which his subjects as well as himself reaped the have occurred before the end of the year 216. (See
benefits, in the enjoyment of a state of tranquillity Clinton, F. II. vol. ii. p. 267. ). According to
and prosperity such as they had never before Lucian (Macrob. 10), he had attained the age of
known for so long a period. But such an interval ninety-two: both Polybiuis and Livy speak of him
of peace and quiet naturally affords ſew materinls as not less than ninety. (Polyb. vii. 8 ; Liv. xxiv.
for history, and our knowledge of the remainder of 4. ) Pausanias, who asserts that he was murdered
Hieron's long life is almost confined to the inter- by Deinomenes (vi. 12. $ 4), has evidently con-
change of good offices between him and the founded him with his grandson Hieronymus.
Romans, which cemented and confirmed their It was not towards the Romans alone that
friendship. During the first Punic war he was Hieron displayed his wealth and munificence in so
frequently called upon to render important services liberal a manner. His eyes were ever turned
to his new allies ; in B. C. 262, by the zeal and towards Greece itself, and he sought to attract the
energy which he displayed in furnishing supplies attention and conciliate the favour of the Greek
to the Roman consuls before Agrigentum, he en- nation not only by costly offerings at Olympia and
abled them to continue the siege, and ultimately other places of national resort, but by coming
effect the reduction of that important fortress. forward readily to the assistance of all who needed
(Polyb.
