GELON, a native of Gela, rose from the etation of a private citizen to be supremo ruler of Gela and Syracuse. lie was descended from an ancient family, which originally came from Talus, an island off the coast of Carla, and settled at Gela when it was first colonised by the Ithodians; at which place his ancestors held the office of hereditary minister of the infernal gods (xlhfrtot Herodotus, vii. 153). During the time that Hippocrates reigned at Gela (B.o. 498-91), Gelon was appointed commander of the cavalry, and greatly distinguished himself in the various wars that Hippocrates carried on against the Grecian cities in Sicily. On the death of Hippocrates, who fell in a battle against the Siceli, Gclon seized the supreme power Owe 491). Soon afterwards a more splendid prize fell in his way. The nobles and landholders (eaniSpoi) of Syracuse, who had been expelled from the city by an insurrection of their slaves supported by the rest of the people, applied to Gelon for assistance. This crafty prince gladly availing himself of the opportunity of extending his dominions, marched to Syracuse, into which ho was admitted by the popular party (n.e. 485), who had not the means of resisting so formidable an opponent (Herodotus, vii. 154, 155.) Having thus become master of Syracuse, fie appointed his brother Hieron governor of Gels, and exerted all his endeavours to promote the prosperity of his new acquisition. In order to increase the population of Syracuse, he destroyed Canearina, and removed all its inhabitant., together with a great number of the citizens of Gela, to his favourite city. As he was indebted for his power in Syracuse to the aristocratical party, be took care to strengthen tt against the people. Thu. when he conquered the lilegarinne end Eubosaus of Sicily, he transplanted to all those who were possessed of wealth, but sold the remainder as sieves. (Herod. vii. 156.) By his various conquests and hie great abilities ho had become a very powerful monarch; and therefore when the Greeks expected the invasion of Xerxes, ambassadors were sent to Syracuse to !secure if possible his assistance in the war. Gelon promised to send to their
aid 200 triremes, 20,000 heavy-armed troops, 2000 cavalry, and 6000 light-smear! troops, provided the supreme command were given to him. This offer being indignantly rejected by the Lacedmemonian and Athenian ambassadors, Galen milt, according to Herodotus, an indi vidual named Cadmus to Delphi with great treasures, with orders to present them to Xerxes if he proved victorious in the coming war. (Herod. vii. 157-64.) This statement however was denied by the Syracusane, who mid that Gelon would have assietal the Greeks if he had not been prevented by an invasion of the Carthaginians with a force amounting to 300,000 men under the command of Handlear. This great army was entirely defeated near Himera by Gelon, and Theron, monarch of Agrigcntum, on the same day on which time battle of Salamis wan fought. (Herod. vii. 165.67.) An account of this expedition is also giveu by Diodorus (b. xi. p. 254, Steph.), who states that the battle between Gelon and the Carthaginians wise fought on the same day as that of Thermopyles.
Gelon appears to have used with moderation the power which be had acquired by violence, and to have endeared himself to tho Syra cusens by the equity of his government and the encouragement be gave to commerce and the fine arts. There are still existing many coins of Gelon and his successor }Heron, of beautiful workmanship, of which a description is given in Mionnet, vol. i. p. 328. It is sup posed by some that these coins were not struck in the time of Gelon, but by order of Hieron II. (s.c. 275-216), a supposition somewhat incon sistent with the number of coins still remaining ; though it is probable that some at least of them may belong to Gelon 11., the son of Hieron. We are informed by Plutarch, that posterity remembered with gratitude the virtues and abilities of Galen, and that the Syra cusans would not allow his statue to ha destroyed, together with those of the other tyrants, when Timoleon was master of the city. ('Life of Timoleon,' p. 247.) lie died me. 478, and was succeeded by his brother Hieron. (Aristotle, 'Pont.; b. v., c. 12, p. 678, Elzevir.)