(in Greek, Syrakusai), an ancient Greek city-state, located in the southeastern part of the island of Sicily.
Syracuse was founded in approximately 734 B.C. by Corinthians. The principal occupations of its inhabitants were farming and sea trade. In the seventh and sixth centuries B.C., Syracu-sans founded a number of colonies in Sicily, including Acrae, Camarina, and probably Enna. In the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., Syracuse was one of the important states of the Mediterranean. In the early fifth century B.C., the urban demos, supported by the Cyllyrii (the rural population, analogous to the Spartan Helots), drove the Gamori (large-scale landowners) from Syracuse after a fierce struggle. The Gamori requested aid from Gel-on, tyrant (absolute ruler) of the city of Gela, and, as a result, Gelon established a tyranny in Syracuse in 485 B.C. Supported by mercenaries, he defeated the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 B.C. and his brother, Hieron I, defeated the Etruscans near the city of Cumae in 474 B.C. This brought an end to Carthaginian expansion in Sicily, and Syracuse was able to extend its rule over a considerable part of the island and part of southern Italy, including Rhegium and other cities.
After the death of Hieron I, the government of Syracuse was overturned and a slaveholding democracy was established. Taking advantage of internal strife, the Athenians dispatched an expedition against Syracuse (415–413 B.C.) during the Pelo-ponnesian War, which ended in defeat. In 406 B.C., the tyrant Dionysius I seized power. Under Dionysius, Syracuse repulsed an attack by the Carthaginians and subdued almost all of Sicily. After his death, the regime weakened and Carthage renewed its onslaught, leading Syracuse to request aid from Corinth. A Corinthian army, led by Timoleon, repulsed the Carthaginian offensive and restored the democracy lost under Dionysius I. During a period of intense intestine strife and a military clash with the city of Acragas, power in Syracuse passed in 317 or 316 B.C. to the military commander Agathocles, who opposed the oligarchs.
Under Agathocles, who ruled until 289 B.C., the Carthaginians were driven from Sicily and the domain established by Dionysius I was won back and expanded further. With the death of Agathocles, however, the state once again declined. Syracuse became an ally of Rome during the First and Second Punic Wars. After 215 B.C., during the rule of Hieronymus, it allied itself with Carthage. In 211 B.C., after a two-year siege, the city finally fell after a Roman assault and was sacked. (In their defense the Syracusans had used war machines invented by Archimedes, a native Syracusan.) Under Roman rule, Syracuse was the residence of the governors of the province of Sicily. The modern city of Syracuse was built on the site of the ancient city.
I. L. MAIAK
(Siracusa), a city and port in southern Italy; located in the southeastern part of the island of Sicily and partly on the island of Ortygia in the Ionian Sea. Capital of the province of Siracusa. Population, 109,000(1971).
Syracuse has textile, metalworking (including the production of cables), cement, and food-processing industries. It is located near Priolo, an oil-refining and petrochemical center. The city arose on the site of the ancient city of Syracuse. It is the birthplace of Archimedes. Remains of several ancient Greek structures have been preserved, including two Doric temples, one dedicated to Apollo or Artemis (early sixth century B.C.) and another to Athena (after 480 B.C.). Both temples are on the island of Ortygia. There are also remains of a theater (fifth century B.C.). Syracuse has an archaeological museum specializing in the ancient Greek period.
a city in the northeastern USA, in the state of New York. Population, 188,000 (1974; 646,000, including suburbs). Syracuse is a port on the Erie Canal. The manufacturing industry employs 62,000 people (1973) and is represented by the machine-building, chemical, electrical-engineering, and radioelectronics industries. There are metalworking enterprises and enterprises for the production of scientific equipment, sodium carbonate, alkalies, drugs and ceramics. Salt and limestone are mined. There is a university in the city. Syracuse was founded in 1786 near salt springs.