SYRACUSE (city in Sicily)
City of ancient Sicily
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Sicily
- Patron
- Ares
- Landmarks
- Precinct of Ares Pindar, Pythian 2 ¶1; Cyane Diodorus 5.4; City Wall Strabo 6.2.4 part 2
- Where
- 37.08° N, 15.28° E
Syracuse is described as a great city and a sacred precinct of the warrior god Ares. Pindar, Pythian 2 ¶1 It is situated near the Ionian sea. Pindar, Pythian 3 ¶14 The island of Ortygia is located opposite the city of Syracuse. Pausanias 5.7.2
Described in the sources
The fountain of Arethusa is located on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse. Diodorus 5.3 +3 Hiero, son of Hierocles, was tyrant of Syracuse, and poets Aeschylus and Simonides journeyed to Hiero there. Pausanias 1.2.3 +3 Syracuse is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, between Pachynus and Catana, with a distance of 36 miles from Pachynus. Athenaeus 5.40 +3 Hieron rules Syracuse with a sceptre that is described as righteous. Athenaeus 12.5 +2 The Alpheius river is present in Ortygia, and its waters mix with the spring of Arethusa at Syracuse. Lucian, Dialogues of the Sea-Gods 3 ¶1 +2 Philistides, a juggler in Alexander's court, was a citizen of Syracuse. Athenaeus 1.35 +1 Hiero, son of Deinomenes, served as the tyrant of Syracuse after his brother Gelo died. Pausanias 6.12.1 +1 Syracuse was founded by Archias the Corinthian, who was sent by the god at Delphi to establish the city. Athenaeus 4.63 +1 The island at Syracuse, known as Ortygia, was named after the goddess Artemis and served as her dwelling place. Diodorus 5.3 +1 Gelon ruled Syracuse and the rest of Sicily during Xerxes' invasion of Europe, and Greek envoys traveled to the city to request military assistance from him. Herodotus 7.157.1 +1
Gods and worship
Syracusan citizens held an annual festive gathering with splendid sacrifices near the fountain Cyane. Diodorus 4.23 +1 Heracles ordered the local inhabitants to perform annual sacrifices to Core at Cyane, and the Syracusan inhabitants celebrated Core's return when corn matured. Diodorus 4.23 +1 Hieron honors the might of Aetnaean Zeus within the city. Pindar, Olympian 6 ¶20 Sicilians held a ten-day festival for Demeter at sowing time. Diodorus 5.4 Hieron honors Demeter, whose footsteps are said to make the corn red. Pindar, Olympian 6 ¶20 The citizens became great rulers and dominated other states in Sicily. Strabo 6.2.4 part 1
Stories and history
The Romans captured the city after a prolonged siege against the Carthaginians. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 7.38 ¶1 +1 Archias founded Syracuse with Dorians who had left the Megara expedition after choosing wealth over health at Delphi. Strabo 6.2.4 part 1 +1 Heracles offered large-scale sacrifices to goddesses at Syracuse after hearing myths about Core's abduction, commanding the specific manner of sacrifice. Diodorus 4.23 +1 The city contains the fountain of Arethusa. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.14 ¶3 Carthaginian forces surrounded Syracuse to capture it. Pausanias 1.12.5 The citizens of this city funded two statues of Hiero. Pausanias 6.15.6 Syracuse is noted for providing cheese and well-fed pigs. Athenaeus 1.49 The sons of Hiero provided a third statue of their father. Pausanias 6.15.6 The settlement later flourished more than any other colonies. Strabo 8.6.22 Hiero was described as a friend to the Romans in every respect. Athenaeus 5.40