Editing Hiero I of Syracuse (section)

==Life==
[[File:Casque Hieron de Syracuse 08827.jpg|thumb|right|Helmet commemorating the Battle of Cumae now in the [[British Museum]]'s collection]]
During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse. He removed the inhabitants of [[Naxos (Sicily)|Naxos]] and [[Catania]] to [[Leontini]], peopled Catania (which he renamed [[Aetna (city)|Aetna]]) with [[Dorians]], concluded an alliance with [[Theron of Acragas|Theron]], the tyrant of Acragas ([[Agrigentum]]), and espoused the cause of the [[Locrians]] against [[Anaxilas]], tyrant of [[Rhegium]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Hiero|display=Hiero ''s.v.'' Hiero I.|volume=13|page=453}}</ref>

His most important military achievement was the defeat of the [[Etruscans]] at the [[Battle of Cumae]] (474 BC), by which he saved the Greeks of [[Campania]] from Etruscan domination. A bronze helmet (now in the [[British Museum]]<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1823-0610-1 British Museum collection]</ref>), with an inscription commemorating the event, was dedicated at [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]].<ref name="EB1911"/>

Hiero's reign was marked by the creation of what is believed to be the first secret police in Greek history, yet he was a liberal patron of literature and culture. The poets [[Simonides]], [[Pindar]], [[Bacchylides]], [[Aeschylus]], and [[Epicharmus]] were active at his court, as well the philosopher [[Xenophane]]s. He was an active participant in pan-hellenic athletic contests, winning several victories in the single horse race and also in the chariot race. He won the chariot race at [[Delphi]] in 470 BC (a victory celebrated in Pindar's first Pythian ode) and at Olympia in 468 BC (this, his greatest victory, was commemorated in Bacchylides' third victory ode). Other odes dedicated to him include Pindar's first Olympian Ode, his second and third Pythian odes, and Bacchylides' fourth and fifth victory odes.

He died at Catania/Aetna in 467 BC and was buried there, but his grave was later destroyed when the former inhabitants of Catania returned to the city. The tyranny at Syracuse lasted only a year or so after his death.