Syracuse: Greek power in the west

Syracuse was founded in 734 BC by Greek settlers from Corinth, who called it Sirako (”swamp”). The settlers found the landto be fertile and the native tribes to be reasonably well-disposed to their presence. The city grew and prospered, and for some time stood as the most powerful Greek city anywhere in the Mediterranean

Syracuse city was one of the most impregnable fortress of the ancient greece. From its foundation several civilizations tried to conquer it without results. It ’s strategical situation and its magnificent natural port made it to be one of the most well protected places in classical greece, remaining unconquered until 212 B.C when after three years of siege fell under the romans.

During the tyranny of Dionysius (406-367 B.C ) Syracuse was fighting hardly with its carthaginians neighbours. Dionysius spent great amounts of money to create the best group of military engineers.They implement for first time in history the artillery in siracusan ships. Because of that they needed bigger ships so they began the development of the quadrireme and the quinquereme. From here the spur was loosing importance on behalf of the catapults.

In the 5th century BC Syracuse came to be ruled by tyrants, who ruled until 211 BC, with some interruptions. In the late 5th century, Syracuse found itself at war with Athens, which sought more resources to fight the Peloponnesian War. The Syracusans enlisted the aid of a general from Sparta, Athens’ foe in the war, to defeat the Athenians. After several and serious defeats the Athenians left camp, leaving their wounded behind and their dead unburied. The survivors, including all the non-combatants, numbered 40.000, and some of the wounded crawled after them as far as they could go. As they marched they defeated a small Syracusan force guarding the river Anapus, but other Syracusan cavalry and light troops continually harassed them. Near the Erineus river, Demosthenes and Nicias became separated, and Demosthenes was attacked by the Syracusans and forced to surrender his 6000 troops. The rest of the Syracusans followed Nicias to the Assinarus river, where Nicias’ troops became disorganized in the rush to find drinking water. Many Athenians were trampled to death and others were killed while fighting with fellow Athenians. On the other side of the river a Syracusan force was waiting, and the Athenians were almost completely massacred, by far the worst defeat of the entire expedition in terms of lives lost. Nicias personally surrendered to Gylippus, hoping the Spartan would remember his role in the peace treaty of 421. The few who escaped found refuge in Catana.
The prisoners, now numbering only 7000, were held in the stone quarries near Syracuse, as there was no other room for them. Demosthenes and Nicias were executed, against the orders of Gylippus. The rest spent ten weeks in horrible conditions in their makeshift prison, until all but the Athenians, Italians, and Sicilians were sold as slaves.In 401 BC, Syracuse contributed a force of 3000 hoplites and a general to Cyrus the Younger’s Army of the Ten Thousand.
Not long after, in the early 4th century BC, the tyrant Dionysius managed to fight a war against Carthage and keep that power from capturing the whole of Sicily.Dionysius fought three wars against the Carthaginians, confining their territorial dominions to the western part of Sicily, and he extended Syracusan control to most of the “foot” of Italy. Under Dionysius, Syracuse became the most splendid and the best fortified of all Greek cities.
Perhaps the most famous Syracusan was the natural philosopher Archimedes. Among his many inventions were various military engines including the claw of Archimedes, used to resist a Roman siege. The city held out for three years, but fell in 212 BC.