Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/2/2025, 10:01:36 PM
Added description
@agathocles:person {role: "Tyrant of Syracuse", nationality: @sicily, period: @date_307_BCE}
@archagathus:person {relation: "son of @agathocles", role: "younger son"}
@heracleides:person {relation: "son of @agathocles", role: "younger son"}
@ophellas:person {role: "friend of @agathocles", description: "killed by @agathocles"}
@diodorus_siculus:person {role: "historian", nationality: @sicily}
@sicily:place {region: "Mediterranean"}
@libya:place {region: "North Africa"}
@segesta:place {region: "Sicily"}
@syracuse:place {region: "Sicily"}
@carthage:place {region: "North Africa"}
@carthaginians:organization {type: "city‑state", based_in: @carthage}
@libyans:organization {type: "people", based_in: @libya}
@agathocles_expedition_libya:event {description: "Agathocles' campaign in Libya against Carthaginians", when: @date_307_BCE, participants: [@agathocles, @libyans, @carthaginians]}
@agathocles_capture:event {description: "Capture of Agathocles by his own soldiers", when: @date_307_BCE, location: @sicily, result: "bound with chains"}
@agathocles_execution:event {description: "Execution of Agathocles by his soldiers", when: @date_307_BCE, location: @sicily}
@siege_syracuse:event {description: "Siege of Syracuse by Carthaginians", when: @date_307_BCE, participants: [@carthaginians, @syracuse]}
@agathocles_torture_of_citizens:event {description: "Agathocles' torture of Segesta citizens", when: @date_307_BCE, location: @segesta, methods: ["wheel", "catapult", "iron pincers", "breast cutting", "foetus expulsion"]}
@book_xx:document {author: @diodorus_siculus, title: "Book XX of Bibliotheca Historica", pages: "325-333", subject: ["Agathocles","Carthage","Libya","Sicily"]}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @book_xx:document
@file_diodorus_siculus_volume_x_book_xx_page_325 -> contains -> @agathocles_expedition_libya:event
@file_diodorus_siculus_volume_x_book_xx_page_327 -> contains -> @agathocles_capture:event
@file_diodorus_siculus_volume_x_book_xx_page_329 -> contains -> @agathocles_execution:event
@file_diodorus_siculus_volume_x_book_xx_page_331 -> contains -> @siege_syracuse:event
@file_diodorus_siculus_volume_x_book_xx_page_333 -> contains -> @agathocles_torture_of_citizens:event
@agathocles -> led -> @agathocles_expedition_libya:event
@agathocles -> captured -> @agathocles_capture:event
@agathocles -> executed -> @agathocles_execution:event
@agathocles -> ordered -> @agathocles_torture_of_citizens:event
@archagathus -> plotted_against -> @agathocles {description: "suspected conspiracy"}
@heracleides -> escorted -> @agathocles {description: "accompanied Agathocles on secret departure"}
@ophellas -> murdered_by -> @agathocles
@agathocles -> paid -> @carthaginians {amount: "300 talents", when: @date_307_BCE, context: "peace terms"}
@carthaginians -> received -> @agathocles {payment: "300 talents", when: @date_307_BCE}
@libyans -> deserted -> @agathocles {reason: "after defeat"}
@agathocles -> gave -> @segesta {gift: "slaves sold to Bruttians", when: @date_307_BCE}Diodorus of Sicily Ἑλλήνων τινὲς αἰσθόμενοι προσιόντας αὐτοὺς καὶ δόξαντες τὴν τῶν Καρχηδονίων δύναμιν ἥκειν ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα πλησίον ὑπάρχειν 2τὸ τῶν πολεμίων στρατόπεδον. τοῦ δυνάστου δὲ παραγγείλαντος εἰς ὅπλα χωρεῖν, ἐξέπιπτον ἐκ τῆς στρατοπεδείας οἱ στρατιῶται μετὰ πολλοῦ θορύβου. ἅμα δὲ τῆς τε κατὰ τὴν παρεμβολὴν φλογὸς εἰς ὕψος ἀρθείσης καὶ τῆς τῶν Καχηδονίων κραυγῆς ἐξακούστου γινομένης ὑπέλαβον πρὸς ἀλήθειαν τοὺς βαρβάρους ἁπάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει προσάγειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς. 3τῆς δ᾿ ἐκπλήξεως τὸ βουλεύεσθαι παραιρουμένης ἐνέπεσε φόβος εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον καὶ πάντες πρὸς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν. εἶτα προσμιξάντων αὐτοῖς τῶν Λιβύων καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς μείζονα τὴν ἄγνοιαν φυλαττούσης οἱ περιτυγχάνοντες ἀλλήλους ὡς πολεμίους 4ἠμύνοντο. ὅλην δὲ τὴν νύκτα πανταχῇ διασπειρομένων αὐτῶν καὶ πανικῷ θορύβῳ συνεχομένων συνέβη πλείους τῶν τετρακισχιλίων ἀναιρεθῆναι. ἐπιγνωσθείσης δὲ μόγις τῆς ἀληθείας οἱ διασωθέντες ἐπανῆλθον εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν. αἱ μὲν οὖν δυνάμεις ἀμφότεραι τὸν εἰρημένον τρόπον ἠτύχησαν, ἐξαπατηθεῖσαι κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν τοῖς κενοῖς τοῦ πολέμου. 68. Ἀγαθοκλῆς δέ, μετὰ τὴν γενομένην ἀτυχίαν τῶν μὲν Λιβύων ἁπάντων ἀποστάντων ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τῆς δὲ ὑπολειπομένης δυνάμεως ἀδυνατούσης διαπολεμεῖν πρὸς τοὺς Καρχηδονίους διέγνω τὴν Λιβύην ἐκλιπεῖν. διακομίσαι δὲ τοὺς στρατιώτας οὐχ ὑπελάμβανεν δυνήσεσθαι διὰ τὸ μήτε πόρια παρεσκευάσθαι μήτε τοὺς Καρχηδονίους ἐπιτρέψαι ποτ᾿ 2ἂν θαλασσοκρατοῦντας. διαλύσεις δ᾿ οὐκ ἐνόμιζε ποιήσεσθαι τοὺς βαρβάρους, πολὺ προέχοντας ταῖς 324Book XX and some of the Greeks, seeing them advancing and 307 b.c. believing that the army of the Carthaginians had come, reported to Agathocles that the enemy’s forces were near at hand. The dynast gave the order to take up arms, and the soldiers rushed from the camp with great tumult. Since at the same time the fire in the Carthaginian camp blazed high and the shouting of the Carthaginians became audible, the Greeks believed that the barbarians were in very truth advancing against them with their whole army. Since their consternation prevented deliberation, panic fell upon the camp and all began to flee. Then as the Libyans mingled with them and the darkness fostered and increased their uncertainty, those who happened to meet fought each other as if they were enemies. They were scattered about everywhere throughout the whole night and were in the grip of panic fear, with the result that more than four thousand were killed. When the truth was at long last discovered, those who survived returned to their camp. Thus both armies met with disaster in the way described, being tricked, according to the proverb, by the empty alarms of war.1 68. Since after this misfortune the Libyans all deserted him and the army which remained was not strong enough to wage battle against the Carthaginians, Agathocles decided to leave Libya. But he did not believe that he would be able to transport his soldiers since he had not prepared any transports and the Carthaginians would never permit it while they controlled the sea. He did not expect that the barbarians would agree to a truce because they were 1Cp. chap. 30. 1, and note.325
Diodorus of Sicily δυνάμεσι καὶ διαβεβαιουμένους ταῖς τῶν πρῶτον διαβάντων ἀπωλείαις ἀποτρέψαι τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιτίθεσθαι 3τῇ Λιβύῃ. ἔκρινεν οὖν μετ᾿ ὀλίγων λάθρᾳ ποιήσασθαι τὴν ἀναγωγὴν καὶ συνενεβίβασε1 τὸν νεώτερον τῶν υἱῶν Ἡρακλείδην· τὸν γὰρ Ἀρχάγαθον εὐλαβεῖτο μήποτε συνὼν τῇ μητρυιᾷ καὶ φύσει τολμηρὸς ὢν ἐπιβουλὴν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ συστήσῃ. ὁ δ᾿ Ἀρχάγαθος ὑποπτεύσας αὐτοῦ τὴν ἐπίνοιαν παρετήρει τὸν ἔκπλουν, διανοούμενος μηνῦσαι τῶν ἡγεμόνων τοῖς διακωλύσουσι τὴν ἐπιβολήν· ἡγεῖτο γὰρ δεινὸν εἶναι τὸ τῶν μὲν κινδύνων ἑαυτὸν προθύμως μετεσχηκέναι, προαγωνιζόμενον τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τἀδελφοῦ, τῆς δὲ σωτηρίας μόνον ἀποστερεῖσθαι, καταλειπόμενον ἔκδοτον τοῖς πολεμίοις. 4διὸ δὴ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα μέλλοντας λάθρᾳ τὸν ἀπόπλουν ποιεῖσθαι νυκτὸς ἐμήνυσέ τισι τῶν ἡγεμόνων. οἱ δὲ συνδραμόντες οὐ μόνον διεκώλυσαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ πλήθει τὴν ῥᾳδιουργίαν ἐξέθηκαν· ἐφ᾿ οἷς οἱ στρατιῶται περιαλγεῖς γενόμενοι συνελάβοντο τὸν δυνάστην καὶ δήσαντες παρέδωκαν εἰς φυλακήν. 69. Ἀναρχίας οὖ γενομένης ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ θόρυβος ἦν καὶ ταραχὴ καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπιλαβούσης διεδόθη λόγος ὡς πλησίον εἰσὶν οἱ πολέμιοι. ἐμπεσούσης2 δὲ πτόης καὶ φόβου πανικοῦ διεσκευασμένος ἕκαστος προῆγεν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς οὐδενὸς 2παραγγέλλοντος. καθ᾿ ὃν δὴ χρόνον οἱ τὸν δυνάστην παραφυλάττοντες οὐχ ἧττον τῶν ἄλλων ἐκπεπληγμένοι καὶ δόξαντες ὑπό τινων καλεῖσθαι 1συνενεβίβασε Dindorf: συνεβίβασε.2ἐμπεσούσης Rhodoman: ἐκπεσούσης.326Book XX far superior in their armies and were determined by 307 b.c. the destruction of those who had first come across to prevent others from attacking Libya. He decided, therefore, to make the return voyage with a few in secret, and he took on board with him the younger of his sons, Heracleides; for he was on his guard against Archagathus, lest at some time this son, who was on intimate terms with his step-mother and was bold by nature, should form a conspiracy against himself. Archagathus, however, suspecting his purpose watched for the sailing with care, being determined to reveal the plot to such of the leaders as would prevent the attempt; for he thought it monstrous that, although he had shared willingly in the battles, fighting in behalf of his father and brother, yet he alone should be deprived of a safe return and left behind as a victim to the enemy. He therefore disclosed to some of the leaders that Agathocles was about to sail away in secret by night. These coming quickly together not only prevented this, but also revealed Agathocles’ knavery to the rank and file; and the soldiers, becoming furious at this, seized the tyrant, bound him, and put him in custody. 69. Consequently, when discipline disappeared in the camp, there was tumult and confusion, and as night came on word was spread abroad that the enemy was near. When fright and panic fear fell upon them, each man armed himself and rushed forth from the encampment, no man giving orders. At this very time those who were guarding the tyrant, being no less frightened than the others and imagining that they were being summoned by somebody, hastily 327
Diodorus of Sicily ταχέως ἐξῆγον τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα διειλημμένον δεσμοῖς. 3τὸ δὲ πλῆθος ὡς ἴδεν, εἰς ἔλεον ἐτράπη καὶ πάντες ἐπεβόων ἀφεῖναι. ὁ δὲ λυθεὶς καὶ μετ᾿ ὀλίγων ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πορθμεῖον ἔλαθεν ἐκπλεύσας κατὰ τὴν δύσιν τῆς Πλειάδος χειμῶνος ὄντος. οὗτος μὲν οὖν τῆς ἰδίας σωτηρίας φροντίσας ἐγκατέλιπε τοὺς υἱούς, οὓς οἱ στρατιῶται τὸν δρασμὸν ἀκούσαντες εὐθὺς ἀπέσφαξαν, καὶ στρατηγοὺς ἐξ ἑαυτῶν ἑλόμενοι διελύθησαν πρὸς Καρχηδονίους, ὥστε τὰς πόλεις ἃς εἶχον παραδοῦναι καὶ λαβεῖν τάλαντα τριακόσια καὶ τοὺς μὲν αἱρουμένους μετὰ Καρχηδονίων στρατεύειν κομίζεσθαι τοὺς ἀεὶ διδομένους μισθούς, τοὺς δ᾿ ἄλλους εἰς Σικελίαν 4διακομισθέντας λαβεῖν οἰκητήριον Σολοῦντα. τῶν μὲν οὖν στρατιωτῶν οἱ πλείους ἐμμείναντες ταῖς συνθήκαις ἔτυχον τῶν ὁμολογηθέντων· ὅσοι δὲ τὰς πόλεις διακατέχοντες ἀντεῖχον ταῖς παρ᾿ Ἀγαθοκλέους 5ἐλπίσιν, ἐξεπολιορκήθησαν κατὰ κράτος. ὧν οἱ Καρχηδόνιοι τοὺς μὲν ἡγεμόνας ἀνεσταύρωσαν, τοὺς δ᾿ ἄλλους δήσαντες πέδαις, ἣν διὰ τὸν πόλεμον ἐξηγρίωσαν χώραν, ἐξηνάγκαζον τοῖς ἰδίοις πόνοις πάλιν ἐξημεροῦν. Καρχηδόνιοι μὲν οὖν ἔτος τέταρτον πολεμούμενοι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. 70. Τῆς δ᾿ Ἀγαθοκλέους στρατείας εἰς Λιβύην ἐπισημήναιτ᾿ ἄν τις τό τε παράδοξον καὶ τὴν εἰς τὰ τέκνα γενομένην τιμωρίαν οἷον τῇ θείᾳ προνοίᾳ. ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς Σικελίας ἡττηθεὶς καὶ τὴν πλείστην 328Book XX brought out Agathocles bound with chains. When 307 b.c. the common soldiers saw him they were moved to pity and all shouted to let him go. When released, he embarked on the transport with a few followers and secretly sailed away, although this was in the winter at the season of the setting of the Pleiades.1 This man, then, concerned about his own safety, abandoned his sons, whom the soldiers at once slew when they learned of his escape2; and the soldiers selected generals from their own number and made peace with the Carthaginians on these terms: they were to give back the cities which they held and to receive three hundred talents, and those who chose to serve with the Carthaginians were to receive pay at the regular rates, and the others, when transported to Sicily, were to receive Solus3 as a dwelling-place. Now, most of the soldiers abided by the terms and received what had been agreed upon; but all those who continued to occupy the cities because they still clung to hopes of Agathocles were attacked and taken by storm. Their leaders the Carthaginians crucified; the others they bound with fetters and forced them by their own labour to bring back again into cultivation the country they had laid waste during the war. In this way, then, the Carthaginians recovered their liberty in the fourth year of the war. 70. One might well draw attention both to the almost incredible elements in Agathocles’ expedition to Libya and to the punishment that befell his children as if by divine providence. For although in Sicily he had been defeated and had lost the largest 1About November 1, 307 b.c.2Cp. Polybius, 7. 2. 4.3A Carthaginian city on the north coast of Sicily about 12 miles east of Panormus.329
Diodorus of Sicily τῆς δυνάμεως ἀπολέσας ἐπὶ τῆς Λιβύης μικρῷ 2μέρει τοὺς προνενικηκότας κατεπολέμησεν. καὶ τὰς μὲν ἐν τῇ Σικελίᾳ πόλεις ἁπάσας ἀποβαλὼν πρὸς Συρακούσσαις ἐπολιορκεῖτο, κατὰ δὲ τὴν Λιβύην πασῶν τῶν ἄλλων πόλεων ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος εἰς πολιορκίαν κατέκλεισε τοὺς Καρχηδονίους, τῆς τύχης ὥσπερ ἐπίτηδες ἐπιδεικνυμένης τὴν 3ἰδίαν δύναμιν ἐπὶ τῶν ἀπηλπισμένων. εἰς τηλικαύτην δ᾿ ὑπεροχὴν ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Ὀφέλλαν φονεύσαντος, ὄντα φίλον καὶ ξένον, φανερῶς ἐπεσημήνατο τὸ δαιμόνιον ὡς διὰ τὴν εἰς τοῦτον παρανομίαν τῶν ὕστερον αὐτῷ γεγενημένων τὰ θεῖον1 ἐπιστήσαι· τοῦ γὰρ αὐτοῦ μηνὸς καὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας Ὀφέλλαν ἀνελὼν παρέλαβε τὴν δύναμιν καὶ πάλιν τοὺς υἱοὺς ἀπολέσας ἀπέβαλε τὸ στρατόπεδον. 4καὶ τὸ πάντων ἰδιώτατον, ὁ θεὸς ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς νομοθέτης διπλῆν ἔλαβε παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὴν κόλασιν· ἕνα γὰρ φίλον ἀδίκως φονεύσας δυεῖν υἱῶν ἐστερήθη, τῶν μετ᾿ Ὀφέλλα παραγενομένων προσενεγκάντων τὰς χεῖρας τοῖς νεανίσκοις. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἡμῖν εἰρήσθω πρὸς τοὺς καταφρονοῦντας τῶν τοιούτων. 71. Ὁ δ᾿ Ἀγαθοκλῆς ἐπειδὴ διεκομίσθη ταχέως ἐκ τῆς Λιβύης εἰς τὴν Σικελίαν, μεταπεμψάμενος μέρος τῆς δυνάμεως παρῆλθεν εἰς τὴν τῶν Αἰγεσταίων πόλιν οὖσαν σύμμαχον. ἀπορούμενος δὲ χρημάτων εἰσφέρειν ἠνάγκαζε τοὺς εὐπόρους τὸ πλεῖον μέρος τῆς ὑπάρξεως, οὔσης τῆς πόλεως τότε 2μυριάνδρου. πολλῶν δ᾿ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀγανακτούντων καὶ συντρεχόντων αἰτιασάμενος τοὺς Αἰγεσταίους 1τὴν θωὴν Fischer.330Book XX part of his army, in Libya with a small portion of 307 b.c. his forces he defeated those who had previously been victorious. And after he had lost all the cities in Sicily, he was besieged at Syracuse; but in Libya, after becoming master of all the other cities, he confined the Carthaginians by a siege, Fortune, as if of set purpose, displaying her peculiar power when a situation has become hopeless. After he had come to such a position of superiority and had murdered Ophelias1 although he was a friend and a guest, the divine power clearly showed that it established through his impious acts against Ophelias a portent of that which later befell him; for in the same month and on the same day on which he murdered Ophelias and took his army, he caused the death of his own sons and lost his own army. And what is most peculiar of all, the god like a good lawgiver exacted a double punishment from him; for when he had unjustly slain one friend, he was deprived of two sons, those who had been with Ophelias laying violent hands upon the young men. Let these things, then, be said as our answer to those who scorn such matters. 71. When with all speed Agathocles had crossed from Libya into Sicily, he summoned a part of his army and went to the city of Segesta, which was an ally. Because he was in need of money, he forced the well-to-do to deliver to him the greater part of their property, the city at that time having a population of about ten thousand. Since many were angry at this and were holding meetings, he charged the 1Cp. chap. 42.331
Diodorus of Sicily ἐπιβουλεύειν αὐτῷ δειναῖς περιέβαλε συμφοραῖς τὴν πόλιν· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἀπορωτάτους προαγαγὼν ἐκτὸς τῆς πόλεως παρὰ τὸν Σκάμανδρον ποταμὸν ἀπέσφαξεν, τοὺς δὲ δοκοῦντας οὐσίαν κεκτῆσθαι μείζονα βασανίζων ἠνάγκαζε λέγειν ὁπόσα ἔχων τις τυγχάνει χρήματα, καὶ τοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν ἐτρόχιζε τοὺς δὲ εἰς τοὺς καταπέλτας ἐνδεσμεύων κατετόξευεν, ἐνίοις δ᾿ ἀστραγάλους προστιθεὶς βιαιότερον 3δειναῖς ἀλγηδόσι περιέβαλλεν. ἐξεῦρε δὲ καὶ ἑτέραν τιμωρίαν ἐμφερῆ τῷ Φαλάριδος ταύρῳ· κατεσκεύασε γὰρ κλίνην χαλκῆν ἀνθρωπίνου σώματος τύπον ἔχουσαν καὶ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον μέρος κλεισὶ διειλημμένην, εἰς ταύτην δ᾿ ἐναρμόζων τοὺς βασανιζομένους ὑπέκαιε ζῶντας, τούτῳ διαφερούσης τῆς κατασκευῆς ταύτης παρὰ τὸν ταῦρον, τῷ καὶ θεωρεῖσθαι 4τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἀνάγκαις ἀπολλυμένους. τῶν δὲ γυναικῶν τῶν εὐπόρων τινῶν μὲν καρκίνοις σιδηροῖς τὰ σφυρὰ πιέζων συνέτεινε, τινῶν δὲ τοὺς τιτθοὺς ἀπέτεμνεν, ταῖς δ᾿ ἐγκύοις πλίνθους ἐπὶ τὴν ὀσφῦν ἐπιτιθεὶς τὸ ἔμβρυον ἀπὸ τοῦ βάρους ἐξέθλιβεν. τούτῳ δὲ τῷ τρόπῳ τὰ χρήματα πάντα τοῦ τυράννου ζητοῦντος καὶ μεγάλου φόβου τὴν πόλιν ἐπέχοντος τινὲς μὲν αὑτοὺς συγκατέκαυσαν 5ταῖς οἰκίαις, τινὲς δὲ ἀγχόνῃ τὸ ζῆν ἐξέλιπον. ἡ μὲν οὖν Αἴγεστα τυχοῦσα μιᾶς ἡμέρας ἀτυχοῦς ἡβηδὸν ἐθανατώθη. ὁ δ᾿ Ἀγαθοκλῆς παρθένους μὲν καὶ παῖδας εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν διακομίσας ἀπέδοτο τοῖς Βρεττίοις, τῆς δὲ πόλεως οὐδὲ τὴν προσηγορίαν 332Book XX people of Segesta with conspiring against him and 307 b.c. visited the city with terrible disasters. For instance, the poorest of the people he brought to a place outside the city beside the river Scamander and slaughtered them; but those who were believed to have more property he examined under torture and compelled each to tell him how much wealth he had; and some of them he broke on the wheel, others he placed bound in the catapults and shot forth, and by applying knucklebones with violence to some, he caused them severe pain.1 He also invented another torture similar to the bull of Phalaris: that is, he prepared a brazen bed that had the form of a human body and was surrounded on every side by bars; on this he fixed those who were being tortured and roasted them alive, the contrivance being superior to the bull in this respect, that those who were perishing in anguish were visible. As for the wealthy women, he tortured some of them by crushing their ankles with iron pincers, he cut off the breasts of others, and by placing bricks on the lower part of the backs of those who were pregnant, he forced the expulsion of the foetus by the pressure. While the tyrant in this way was seeking all the wealth, great panic prevailed throughout the city, some burning themselves up along with their houses, and others gaining release from life by hanging. Thus Segesta, encountering a single day of disaster, suffered the loss of all her men from youth upward. Agathocles then took the maidens and children across to Italy and sold them to the Bruttians, leaving not even the name 1It is possible that the ἀστράγαλοι are whips studded with bits of bone. Cp. Lucian, Ass, 38; Plutarch, Moralia, 1127 c.333
No children (leaf entity)