AGATHOCLES (361—289 B.C.)  , tyrant of Syracuse, was born at Thermae Himeraeae (mod . Termini Imerese) in Sicily . The son of a potter who had removed to Syracuse, he learned his father's trade, but afterwards entered the army . In 333 he married the widow of his patron Damas, a distinguished and wealthy citizen . He was twice banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party in Syracuse (q.v.) ; in 317 he returned with an army of mercenaries under a solemn oath to observe the democratic constitution which was then set up . Having banished or murdered some 1o,00o citizens, and thus made himself master of Syracuse, he created a strong army and fleet and subdued the greater part of Sicily . War with Carthage followed . In 310 Agathocles, defeated and besieged in Syracuse, took the desperate resolve of breaking through the blockade and attacking the enemy in Africa . After several victories he was at last completely defeated (306) and fled secretly to Sicily . After concluding peace with Carthage, Agathocles styled himself king of Sicily, and established his rule over the Greek cities of the island more firmly than ever . Even in his old age he displayed the same restless energy, and is said to have been meditating a fresh attack on Carthage at the time of his death . His last years were harassed by ill-health and the turbulence of his grandson Archagathus, at whose instigation he is said to have been poisoned; according to others, he died a natural death .

He was a born

leader of mercenaries, and, although he did not shrink from cruelty to gain his ends, he afterwards showed himself a mild and popular "tyrant." See Justin xxii., xxiii.; Diodorus Siculus xix., xxi., xxii . (follows generally Timaeus who had a special grudge against Agathocles) ; Polybius ix . 23; Schubert, Geschichte des Agathokles (1887); Grote, History of Greece, ch . 97 ; also SICILY, History . modelled on that of Thucydides . See H . Leopoldi, De Agatharchide Cnidio Dissertatio (1892) ; C . W . Muller, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum, iii., and Geography Graeci Minores, i.; E . H . Bunbury, Hist. of Ancient Geography, ii . (1879) .