AGIRA, a-je'ra, formerly SAN FILIPO D'AR GIRO. A city in Sicily, 2130 feet above the sea, 45 miles northwest of Catania (Map: Italy, J 10). It has the ruins of a Norman castle, sul phur mines, and marble quarries. The histo rian Diodorus (q.v.), who was born here, credits it with having been honored by a visit from Hercules, but now St. Philip has succeeded the heathen god as the tutelary genius of the city. Four miles to the north is Gagliano, where 300 French knights were ambushed in 1300. Pop., 14,000.
A'GIS (Gk. `Ay(c). The name of several kings of Sparta. (1) Son of Enrysthenes and founder of the family of the Agiffie. According to one account, he conquered Helos and established the order of the Helots. (2) Son of Arehidamus II., and king from 427 or 420 to 400 or 399 B.C. He was one of the best kings of Sparta and one of the most distinguished men of his time. He took an active part in the Peloponnesian War, several times invaded Attica, and defeated the Athenians and their allies at the battle of Man tinea, in 418 B.C. It was said that Alcibiades
seduced Tinura, the wife of Agis, and in conse quence of this report, Leotyehides, Tinuea's son, was excluded from the throne in favor of Agesila iis. (3) Son of Archidanms If ., and king from 338 to 331 B.C. He tried to overthrow the Macedo nian power in Europe while Alexander the Great was in Asia, but was defeated and killed in battle by Antipater in 331 B.C. (4) Son of Endamidus II., and king from 244 to 240 n.c. Ile tried to reistablish the institutions of Lyenrgns and re form the Spartan State. but, hieing opposed by the wealthy classes, was thrown into prison and put to death. Consult Plutarch, Life of Apis and Barran, ././(Rtoire d'Apis 11'. (Paris, 1817).