AGATHOCLES, the Sicilian tyrant, was born at Thermx, in Sicily', B. C. 361. He was of mean parent age, and even followed the occupation of a potter. After various adventures, in which he was a soldier, a robber, and a pirate, we find him at last commander in chief of the Syracusan army. Upon the death of Timoleon, who had expelled the tyrants, and restored liberty to Sicily, Agathocles aspired at the sovereignty of Syracuse. But his intention being discovered, he was compelled to swear, that he would preserve the democracy inviolate. Regardless, however, of his oath, he ordered all the no bles and chief citizens to be massacred. to the number 4600, proclaimed himself king, and was inimidiately acknowledged by rue people. Having now obtained the gone nun ent, he exet cised his authority with the most wanton cruelty ; and not content with his high station, he aimed at the reduction of the whole island. lint the Carthaginians, already jealous of his growing power, and trembling for their own possessions in Sicily, de clared war against him. A battle being fought, Aga thocles was completely defeated by Ilamilcar, and com pelled to retire within the city. Ile now saw himself forsaken by his allies, and reduced to all the miseries of a siege. Yet his spirit was still undaunted, and though unable to make head against the enemy at home, his en terprising mind formed one of the boldest designs, that has been recorded in history. Leaving the care of the city to his brother .Antandes, with 6i) galleys he trans ported an army into Africa, burnt his fleet upon his arrival, and carried terror and desolation to the walls of Carthage. But his success was of short duration. When absent in Sicily, the Africans, who had flocked to his standard when victorious, now deserted him for his per fidy and cruelty ; and his troops, weakened by frequent skirmishes, were compelled to retreat and evacuate their strongest positions. Agathocles hastened back to their assistance; but all his endeavours to turn the for tune of the war were ineffectual. Ilis little army were
unable to defend themselves against the numbers of the Carthaginians, and he had no ships to carry them back to Sicily. Lost, however, to all sense of humanity and justice, and regardless even of the ties of kindred and affection, he thought only of providing for his own safety. He basely abandoned his army to the mercy of an in sulted foe; and exposed his family to the fury of an ex asperated and disappointed soldiery. His troops, seeing themselves thus betrayed, murdered his children, and surrendered to the Carthaginians. Agathocles himself arrived at Syracuse, with a few attendants, and revenged the death of his family, by murdering all the relations of those soldiers, whom he had deserted and betrayed. He was soon after poisoned, at the instigation of his grandson Acagathus, and ended a cruel life by a mise rable and excruciating death, in the 28th year of his reign, B.C. 289.
Agathocles owed his advancement, in a great mea sure, to the beauty of his person, his courage, and en terprising genius ; but chiefly to his wickedness, treach ery and cruelty. He possessed a magnanimity, which made him not ashamed of his mean extraction ; and while his guests feasted out of silver and gold, he con tented himself with vessels of earthen ware. The great Scipio, who, in the third Punic war, made a descent upon Africa, pronounces an eulogium upon Agathocles wor thy of a better object. " He was." says he, " the most prudent man in the conduct of his affairs, and most in diciously bold in the execution of his designs." But craftiness and cruelty were the business of his life ; and all the enormities which the Syracusans experienced from their former tyrants, were far exceeded by those of the tyrant Agathocles. Sec Dzodorus •S7culus. Jus tin. lib. xxii. Polub. lib. xv. Rodiu. p. 172. (10