Mon site |
SYRACUSE |
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By Juliette and Mathilde
This city is divided into two parts; the old one is situated on the island of Ortyga and the second part, more recent, on the main island. Both are link by a man-made causeway. It is named after the marsh across the Great Arbor. In Syracuse, there were a lot of temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo and Athena which were built around the sixth century BC.
In the 5th century, Syracuse was governed by a tyrant named Gelon who take the power by force after the death of Hippocrates; Syracuse became one of the most important cities in the Greek world, a sort of capital.
Afterwards, Syracuse became a democracy again in 467 BC so people who had been resettled returned to their home but the city lost its power and the grips on the town it had conquered.
The Archidamian War takes place between 431 and 421 and Sparta and Corinth were against Athens which was showing an interest in Sicily. Sicilian cities were aware of Athens power and they make peace with the syracusan during a conference at Gela. In 421 Sparta and Athens concluded a peace treaty so the Athenians send an armada to conquer Sicily.
In 413, Athens was trying to conquer Syracuse but Athenians lose the war during a naval battle in the harbor thanks to Hermocrate. It show that the Syracusan democracy was effective.
Hermocrate was killed around 408 because a Carthaginian army captured Selinus which created fight in Syracuse between moderate and radical democrats.
Because of this attack,the Carthaginians were determined and attacked Sicily, the Greek were desperate so they found a new leader for Syracuse: the famous Dionysius.
This city is divided into two parts; the old one is situated on the island of Ortyga and the second part, more recent, on the main island. Both are link by a man-made causeway. It is named after the marsh across the Great Arbor. In Syracuse, there were a lot of temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo and Athena which were built around the sixth century BC.
In the 5th century, Syracuse was governed by a tyrant named Gelon who take the power by force after the death of Hippocrates; Syracuse became one of the most important cities in the Greek world, a sort of capital.
Afterwards, Syracuse became a democracy again in 467 BC so people who had been resettled returned to their home but the city lost its power and the grips on the town it had conquered.
The Archidamian War takes place between 431 and 421 and Sparta and Corinth were against Athens which was showing an interest in Sicily. Sicilian cities were aware of Athens power and they make peace with the syracusan during a conference at Gela. In 421 Sparta and Athens concluded a peace treaty so the Athenians send an armada to conquer Sicily.
In 413, Athens was trying to conquer Syracuse but Athenians lose the war during a naval battle in the harbor thanks to Hermocrate. It show that the Syracusan democracy was effective.
Hermocrate was killed around 408 because a Carthaginian army captured Selinus which created fight in Syracuse between moderate and radical democrats.
Because of this attack,the Carthaginians were determined and attacked Sicily, the Greek were desperate so they found a new leader for Syracuse: the famous Dionysius.
Dionysus was a tyrant famous for being a great military commander and politician. He reestablished a period of prosperity in Syracuse which was ready to conquered Sicily and South of Italy. He was named “chief of Sicily” after the conquest of Rhegium in south Italy.
He attacked Carthage again but died and after his son concluded a peace treaty with them. His successor was Pyrrhus.
Syracuse was sacked by the Roman commander Marcus Claudius.
The city became the provincial capital till Roman time. Augustus made it a colony in 21 BC. Finally Syracuse was captured by Arabs in 878, this closes her long Roman/Greek history. The island of Sicily became a zone of cultural culture with Islam and Christianity.
He attacked Carthage again but died and after his son concluded a peace treaty with them. His successor was Pyrrhus.
Syracuse was sacked by the Roman commander Marcus Claudius.
The city became the provincial capital till Roman time. Augustus made it a colony in 21 BC. Finally Syracuse was captured by Arabs in 878, this closes her long Roman/Greek history. The island of Sicily became a zone of cultural culture with Islam and Christianity.