Philistus
Encyclopedia
Philistus son of Archomenidas, was Greek historian of Sicily
. Philistus was born at Syracuse
about the beginning of the Peloponnesian War
. He was a faithful supporter of the elder Dionysius
, and commander of the citadel. Cicero
who had a high opinion of his work, calls him the miniature Thucydides
(pusillus Thucydides). He was admitted by the Alexandria
n critics into the canon of historiographers, and his work was highly valued by Alexander the Great.
Philistus was quite wealthy. Before his rise to power, Dionysius criticized the generals of Syracuse in their poor performance against the Carthagenians. When the assembly fined Dionysius for his seditious language, Philistus stepped in to pay Dionysius' fines, with the promise to continue paying for them so long as the council saw fit to issue them. It was through Philistus' support that Dionysius was able to rise to power and control Syracuse.
In 386, Philistus married the daughter of Leptines I, who was Dionysius' niece. Because Dionysius had not been consulted, he feared an alliance between his brother and Philistus against him, Dionysius exiled both from Syracuse.
He settled at Thurii
, but afterwards removed to Adria
, where he remained until the death of Dionysius (366 BC). During his stay at Adria, Philistus occupied himself with the composition of his history of Sicily in eleven books. The first part (bks. i—vii) comprised the history of the island from the earliest times to the capture of Agrigentum by the Carthaginians
(406 BC); the second, the history of the elder and the younger Dionysius (down to 363 BC). From this point the work was carried on by Philistus's fellow countryman, Athanas.
Philistus was then recalled by the younger Dionysius
, whom he persuaded to dismiss Plato
and Dion. When Dion set sail from Zacynthus with the object of liberating Syracuse in (356), Philistus was entrusted by Dionysius II with the command of the fleet. After a lengthy sea battle, his ship was surrounded. Philistus took his own life to avoid retribution from his countrymen.
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Philistus was born at Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
about the beginning of the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
. He was a faithful supporter of the elder Dionysius
Dionysius I of Syracuse
Dionysius I or Dionysius the Elder was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse, in what is now Sicily, southern Italy. He conquered several cities in Sicily and southern Italy, opposed Carthage's influence in Sicily and made Syracuse the most powerful of the Western Greek colonies...
, and commander of the citadel. Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
who had a high opinion of his work, calls him the miniature Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
(pusillus Thucydides). He was admitted by the Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
n critics into the canon of historiographers, and his work was highly valued by Alexander the Great.
Philistus was quite wealthy. Before his rise to power, Dionysius criticized the generals of Syracuse in their poor performance against the Carthagenians. When the assembly fined Dionysius for his seditious language, Philistus stepped in to pay Dionysius' fines, with the promise to continue paying for them so long as the council saw fit to issue them. It was through Philistus' support that Dionysius was able to rise to power and control Syracuse.
In 386, Philistus married the daughter of Leptines I, who was Dionysius' niece. Because Dionysius had not been consulted, he feared an alliance between his brother and Philistus against him, Dionysius exiled both from Syracuse.
He settled at Thurii
Thurii
Thurii , called also by some Latin writers Thurium , for a time also Copia and Copiae, was a city of Magna Graecia, situated on the Tarentine gulf, within a short distance of the site of Sybaris, whose place it may be considered as having taken...
, but afterwards removed to Adria
Adria
Adria is a town and comune in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, situated between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po....
, where he remained until the death of Dionysius (366 BC). During his stay at Adria, Philistus occupied himself with the composition of his history of Sicily in eleven books. The first part (bks. i—vii) comprised the history of the island from the earliest times to the capture of Agrigentum by the Carthaginians
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
(406 BC); the second, the history of the elder and the younger Dionysius (down to 363 BC). From this point the work was carried on by Philistus's fellow countryman, Athanas.
Philistus was then recalled by the younger Dionysius
Dionysius II of Syracuse
Dionysius the Younger or Dionysius II ruled Syracuse, Sicily from 367 BC to 357 BC and again from 346 BC to 344 BC....
, whom he persuaded to dismiss Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Dion. When Dion set sail from Zacynthus with the object of liberating Syracuse in (356), Philistus was entrusted by Dionysius II with the command of the fleet. After a lengthy sea battle, his ship was surrounded. Philistus took his own life to avoid retribution from his countrymen.