Sicily
Sicily, separated from mainland Italy by the Messina Strait, is the largest island (25,700 km2) in the Mediterranean. At 3320 metres (≈10,890 ft) high, Mount Etna on the east coast is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Ancient writers distinguished three indigenous peoples – Siculi (who gave their name to Sicily) in the east, Sicani (from whom Sicania, Sicily’s name in the Odyssey, was derived) in the centre, and Elymi (believed to be of Trojan origin) in the west of Sicily.
During the Late Bronze Age (later second millennium BC) Mycenaean traders visited Sicily and the Lipari Islands to the northeast. From the eighth century BC onwards the Phoenicians and Greeks established trading settlements along the coast of the island. According to tradition the earliest Greek colony was Naxus beneath Mount Etna, said to be established by settlers from Chalcis and Naxos in c.734 BC. Within a few years Naxus was strong enough to found Catana and Leontini on the east of the island (c.729 BC).
The first wave of Greek colonisation of Sicily continued with the founding of Syracuse by Corinth in c.733 BC, Zancle (=Messana) by Cumae/Chalcis in c.730 BC, Megara Hyblaea by Megara in c.728 BC, and Gela by Rhodes/Crete in c.688 BC. These in turn planted their own colonies – Himera by Syracuse in c.649 BC, Selinus by Megara Hyblaea in c.628 BC, and Acragas by Gela in c.580 BC.
Syracuse
Syracuse is located on the southeast coast of the island. The founders of the city were led by the quasi-mythological oecist (founder) Archias. The original foundation was established on the offshore island of Ortygia, but almost immediately the settlement spread to the mainland opposite; the two being joined by an artificial causeway.
The original Greek settlers of the city formed the gamoroi, the ruling group of large landholders, while the native Siculi worked the land as an oppressed class. In 492 BC after Hippocrates (r.498-491 BC), tyrant of Gela, defeated the Syracusans in a battle at the Helorus River, the gamoroi were expelled in a democratic revolution.
In 485 BC Gelon (r.491-485 BC), tyrant of Gela, gained control of Syracuse (r.485-478 BC) by supporting the exiled gamoroi and made the city his capital. Syracuse under the tyranny of Gelon and his brother Hieron-I (r.478-467 BC) became a major military power, which won victories over the Carthaginians at Himera (480 BC) and the Etruscans at Cumae (474 BC). Soon after the death of Hieron the tyranny was replaced by a democracy, but Syracuse lost her empire.
Gela
Gela is located on the southwest coast of the island. The founders were led by the oecists Antiphemus of Rhodes and Entimus of Crete. Pantares, a leading citizen of Gela, was the first Sicilian to win at Olympia, probably the chariot race of 508 BC. In 505 BC the oligarchy of Gela was overthrown by Pantares’ son Cleander (r.505-498 BC). When Cleander was assassinated his brother Hippocrates (r.498-481 BC) assumed power. The two brothers had defensive walls constructed on the northern side of the town and built up the army, particularly its cavalry. Within seven years Hippocrates had conquered most of eastern Sicily. After defeating the Syracusans at the Heloris River (492 BC) he was restrained by Corinthian and Corcyraean intervention from occupying Syracuse itself. Hippocrates died fighting against the Siceli near Hybla Heraea (Ragusa). His cavalry commander Gelon (62; r.491-485 BC) dispossessed Hippocrates’ sons and seized the tyranny of Gela for himself. In 485 BC by supporting exiled land-owners he gained control of Syracuse (r.485-478 BC) and founded the Deinomenid Dynasty (485-465 BC), named after his father Deinomenes. Gela’s pre-eminence ended when Gelon transferred his capital to Syracuse and forced many Geloans to go with him; his brother Hieron-I (r.478-467 BC) exiled many others. After 466 BC the Geloans were allowed to go home and the city began to prosper once more.
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