Hippocrates of Gela
Encyclopedia
Hippocrates (not to be confused with Hippocrates of Cos) was the second tyrant of Gela and ruled from 498 BC
to 491 BC. He was the brother of Cleander
and succeeded him to the throne after his death. With him, Gela began its expansion phase; Hippocrates aimed to conquer all of southeastern Sicily in order to build a great state with Gela as its capital. He formed an alliance with Agrigento
and conquered Zancle
, Camarina
, Catana, Naxos
and Leontini
. He also managed to besiege Syracuse, but had to withdraw, due to Corinth
ian and Corcyran involvement in the war. During his government, his city became the most powerful and flourishing among the Greek colonies in Sicily
. Hippocrates died in battle against the Sicels
. He designated his sons, Euclides and Cleander, as his successors, but they were soon replaced by the commander of the cavalry, Gelo
who became the new tyrant of Gela.
498 BC
Year 498 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Siculus and Flavus...
to 491 BC. He was the brother of Cleander
Cleander of Gela
For other persons with the same name, see CleanderCleander was a tyrant who ruled the Sicilian city of Gela, which had been previously subject to an oligarchy. He reigned for seven years, and was murdered 498 BC, by a citizen of Gela named Sabyllus who wanted to see the introduction of democracy...
and succeeded him to the throne after his death. With him, Gela began its expansion phase; Hippocrates aimed to conquer all of southeastern Sicily in order to build a great state with Gela as its capital. He formed an alliance with Agrigento
Agrigento
Agrigento , is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. It is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas , one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the golden...
and conquered Zancle
Messina, Italy
Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province of Messina. It has a population of about 250,000 inhabitants in the city proper and about 650,000 in the province...
, Camarina
Camarina
thumb|240px|Remains of the Temple of Athena.Kamarina is an ancient city of Sicily, southern Italy, situated on the south coast, about 27 kilometers South East of Gela . It was founded by Syracuse in 599 BC, but destroyed by the mother city in 552 BC. Its remains are today in the municipality of...
, Catana, Naxos
Naxos (Sicily)
Naxos or Naxus , was an ancient city of Sicily, on the east coast of the island between Catana and Messana...
and Leontini
Lentini
Lentini , historically Leontini, Leontinoi , or Leontium, is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, southeast Sicily .-History:...
. He also managed to besiege Syracuse, but had to withdraw, due to Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ian and Corcyran involvement in the war. During his government, his city became the most powerful and flourishing among the Greek colonies in Sicily
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,...
. Hippocrates died in battle against the Sicels
Sicels
The Sicels were an Italic people who inhabited ancient Sicily. The Sicels gave Sicily the name it has held since antiquity, but they rapidly fused into the culture of Magna Graecia.-History:...
. He designated his sons, Euclides and Cleander, as his successors, but they were soon replaced by the commander of the cavalry, Gelo
Gelo
Gelo , son of Deinomenes, was a 5th century BC ruler of Gela and Syracuse and first of the Deinomenid rulers.- Early life :...
who became the new tyrant of Gela.