DION, of Syracuse, eon of Ilipparinue, one of the chief men in that city, lived under the reigns of both the DionysiL He was originally introduced to Dionysius the Eller by his slater Aristomacho, one of the king's wives, but his own merit appears afterwards to have gained him so much favour at court that he could speak to Dionysius with the freedom of an equal. He had early become the disciple of Plato, whom Dionysius had invited to Syracuse, and Plato is said to have considered him the moat ardent of his pupils. Soon after his accession the younger Dionysiva began to show the effects of an imperfect and vicious education, while in private he abandoned himself to all kinds of excesses. The prospects of his country roused Dion, and he endeavoured to counteract the errors and to supply the deficiencies of the tyrant by prudent counsels and exhortations. Among other things be advised him to invite Plato to revisit the Syracusan court, setting forth the advantages which he would derive from his conversation and knowledge. Dionysius wrote a letter of invitation, but the philosopher had not forgotten the treatment which he had received from the tyrant's father, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he was pre vailed on to go. The presence of Plato was dreaded by the dissolute courtiers who surrounded Dionysiva, and to counteract any influence he might have, they obtained the recall of Philistua, whose talents and tyrannical tendencies they thought were likely to be a match for the philosopher. The enemies of Dion availed themselves of the same opportunity to insinuate suspicions of Dion'a loyalty, and succeeded in procuring his banishment. He went first to Italy and then to
Greece, where he received the highest honours. Dionysius however endeavoured to embitter his exile, and eoon confiscated his lands and effects, and forced his wife to marry another person. Dion no sooner heard of this outrage, than he determined to make an effort to expel the tyrant. Though dissuaded by Plato, he began to raise troops privately, and at last assembled•hia forces to the number of about eight hundred in the island of Zacynthna, whence he sailed to Sicily. On landing, he found that Dionysius was absent in Italy, and he was accordingly received by the people with great joy. Dioaysins at once returned to Sicily, and made some fruitless attempts to regain his influence, but after several defeats was forced to quit the island for Italy. Dion however did not long enjoy the favour of his countrymen, and by the influence of Heraclides, who estranged the minds of the people from him, he was obliged to leave Sicily ; he was afterwards recalled, but was treacherously murdered, B.G. 354, at about fifty-five years of age, by his supposed friend Calippua, an Athenian. His death was generally regretted ; and in honour of his high courage and patriotism a monument was raised to him at the public expense. (Diodorus Siculus, xvi. 6-20; Plutarch, Life of Dion; Napes, Life of Dion.)