Syracuse (Colony)
placeThe wealthiest Greek colony in Sicily, founded by Corinthians and home to Archimedes, connected to myths of Arethusa and the cult of Demeter.
The Myth
Syracuse was founded in 734 BC by Corinthian settlers led by Archias, who consulted the Oracle at Delphi before departing. The colony's most sacred site was the spring of Arethusa on the island of Ortygia, where the nymph Arethusa emerged after fleeing the river god Alpheus through an underground passage from the Peloponnese. Demeter and Persephone were the city's chief deities, and the great altar of Hieron II was dedicated to Zeus Eleutherios. The tyrant Dionysius I fortified Syracuse into the most powerful city in the western Greek world. Pindar composed odes for its Olympic victors. Aeschylus staged plays there and died in the city. Plato visited the court of Dionysius II three times, attempting to create his ideal state. The Romans finally captured it in 212 BC despite Archimedes' war machines.
Parents
Corinth (mother city)
Symbols
Fun Fact
Archimedes' defence of Syracuse against Rome in 214-212 BC was so ingenious — catapults, cranes that lifted ships, possibly focusing mirrors — that it delayed a Roman siege for two years. When Syracuse finally fell, a Roman soldier killed Archimedes despite orders to capture him alive. His last words were reportedly "Do not disturb my circles" — making it history's most famous case of a mathematician annoying a soldier.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Arethusa
nymphArethusa was a nymph of Artemis who was pursued by the river god Alpheus and transformed into a...
Alpheus
godRiver god of the Alpheus, the largest river in the Peloponnese.
Corinth
placeCorinth was a wealthy trading city on the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the...
Delphi
placeThe most important oracle in ancient Greece, where the Pythia delivered Apollo's prophecies. The...
Delphi Treasury of Athens
placeThe marble treasury built by Athens at Delphi from Marathon spoils, the best-preserved building on...
Oracle of the Dead (Necromanteion)
placeThe Oracle of the Dead at Ephyra in Epirus where the living consulted ghosts of the deceased...
Cumae
placeThe oldest Greek colony on the Italian mainland, home to the Cumaean Sibyl whose prophetic cave...
Demeter
godGoddess of grain, harvest, and the fertility of the earth. When her daughter Persephone was...
Demeter (Grain)
godDemeter was the goddess of grain, harvest, and fertility whose grief over Persephone's abduction...
Demeter Thesmophoros
godAn epithet of Demeter as bringer of divine law and civilised customs, honoured at the Thesmophoria,...
Olympic Truce
conceptThe sacred truce declared before and during the ancient Olympic Games, protecting athletes,...
Oracle
conceptOracles were sacred sites where mortals could consult the gods — the most important decision-making...