Thrasydaeus
Encyclopedia
Thrasydaeus, tyrant
of Agrigentum, was the son and successor of Theron
. Already during his father's lifetime he had been appointed to the government of Himera
, where, by his violent and arbitrary conduct, he alienated the citizens, so that they were close to revolt. But when they applied for support to Hiero of Syracuse
, he betrayed them to Theron, who, in consequence, put to death the leaders of the disaffected party, and re-established his authority. Whether Thrasydaeus retained his position at Himera after this, we know not: but on the death of Theron (472 BC) he succeeded without opposition in the sovereignty of both cities. His tyrannical and violent character soon displayed itself, and made him as unpopular at Agrigentum as he had been at Himera. But his first object was to renew the war with Hiero, against whom he had already taken an active part during his father's lifetime. He therefore assembled a large force of mercenaries, besides a general levy from Agrigentum and Himera, and advanced against Hiero, but was defeated after a stubborn and bloody struggle; and the Agrigentines immediately took advantage of this disaster to expel him from their city. He made his escape to Greece
, but was arrested at Megara
, and publicly executed.
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
of Agrigentum, was the son and successor of Theron
Theron of Acragas
Theron , son of Aenesidamus, was a Greek tyrant of the town of Acragas in Sicily from 488 BC. He soon became an ally of Gelo, who at that time controlled Gela, and from 485 BC Syracuse. Gelo later became Theron's son-in-law....
. Already during his father's lifetime he had been appointed to the government of Himera
Himera
thumb|250px|Remains of the Temple of Victory.thumb|250px|Ideal reconstruction of the Temple of Victory.Himera , was an important ancient Greek city of Sicily, situated on the north coast of the island, at the mouth of the river of the same name , between Panormus and Cephaloedium...
, where, by his violent and arbitrary conduct, he alienated the citizens, so that they were close to revolt. But when they applied for support to Hiero of Syracuse
Hiero I of Syracuse
Hieron I was the son of Deinomenes, the brother of Gelon and tyrant of Syracuse in Sicily from 478 to 467 BC. In succeeding Gelon, he conspired against a third brother Polyzelos. During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse...
, he betrayed them to Theron, who, in consequence, put to death the leaders of the disaffected party, and re-established his authority. Whether Thrasydaeus retained his position at Himera after this, we know not: but on the death of Theron (472 BC) he succeeded without opposition in the sovereignty of both cities. His tyrannical and violent character soon displayed itself, and made him as unpopular at Agrigentum as he had been at Himera. But his first object was to renew the war with Hiero, against whom he had already taken an active part during his father's lifetime. He therefore assembled a large force of mercenaries, besides a general levy from Agrigentum and Himera, and advanced against Hiero, but was defeated after a stubborn and bloody struggle; and the Agrigentines immediately took advantage of this disaster to expel him from their city. He made his escape to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, but was arrested at Megara
Megara
Megara is an ancient city in Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. Megara was one of the four districts of Attica, embodied in the four mythic sons of King...
, and publicly executed.