DIONYSIUS THE ELDER, Syracusan tyrant: b. 431; d. 367 s.c. He first attracted general notice during the war against Carthage. When Agrigentum fell, he openly accused the generals concerned, brought about their dis missal and had another staff appointed of which he himself was a member. In a short dme he removed his associates and took full command himself. He soon supplanted his colleagues. He contrived to make himself master of the citadel of Syracuse, to gether with all the arms and provisions contained in it, and finally to declare himself tyrant, at the age of 25 years. After having finished a short war against the Carthaginians he made preparations for a great war against Carthage. He attacked the Cartha ginians at once by land and water, and gained a complete victory, which was soon followed by an advantageous peace. In 368 he commenced a new war against the Carthaginians, intending to drive them entirely out of Sicily. He did not,
however, succeed in this attempt, and was obliged to conclude a disadvantageous peace. He holds the unenviable place in ancient history as the representative tyrant. He lived in con tinual dread of assassination, of which the sword of Damocles has become the symbol. He had the state prison so constructed that even the solitary murmurings of its inmates could be heard by him, and it was hence called the Ear of Dionysius. During his regime the prosperity of the city grew apace and it became the first city of the Greeks. Plato, Aristippus and Phil oxenus were among the notable personages who visited his court. In 367 Dionysius won first prize at Athens for the tragedy, 'Ransom of Hector.) Consult Freeman, 'History of Sicily' (Oxford 1894) ; Grote, (History of Greece' (London 1853), and Holm, 'Geschichte Siciliens' (Leipzig 1874). See SICILY ; SYRA CUSE.