Syracuse
Syr'acuse.
The celebrated city, on the eastern coast of Sicily. "The city in
its splendor was the largest and richest that the Greeks possessed, in any part
of the world, being 22 miles in circumference." St. Paul arrived thither,
in an Alexandrian ship from Melita, on his voyage to Rome. Act_28:12. The site of Syracuse rendered it a
convenient place for the African corn-ships to touch at, for the harbor was an
excellent one, and the fountain Arethusa, in the island furnished an
unfailing supply of excellent water.
Source:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Syracuse
sir´a-kūs, sir-a-kūs´ (Συράκουσαι,
Surákousai; Latin Syracusae, Ital. Siracusa):
Situated on the east coast of Sicily, about midway between Catania and the
southeastern extremity of the island.
The design of the present work scarcely permits more than a passing
allusion to Syracuse, the most brilliant Greek colony on the shores of the
Western Mediterranean, where Paul halted three days, on his way from Melita to
Rome (Act_28:12). The original
Corinthian colony rounded in 734 BC (Thucydides vi. 3) was confined to the
islet Ortygia, which separates the Great Harbor from the sea. Later the city
spread over the promontory lying northward of Ortygia and the harbor.
Syracuse assumed a pre-eminent position in the affairs of Sicily under
the rule of the tyrants Gelon (485-478 BC; compare Herodotus vii.
154-55) and Hieron (478-467 BC). It nourisher greatly after the establishment
of popular government in 466 BC (Diodorus xi. 68-72). The Syracusans
successfully withstood the famous siege by the Athenians in 414 BC, the
narrative of which is the most thrilling part of the work of Thucydides (vi,
vii).
Dionysius took advantage of the fear inspired by the Carthaginians to
elevate himself to despotic power in 405 BC, and he was followed, after a reign
of 38 years, by his son of the same name. Although democratic government was
restored by Timoleon after a period of civil dissensions in 344 BC (Plutarch, Timoleon),
popular rule was not of long duration.
The
most famous of the later rulers was the wise Hieron (275-216 BC), who was the
steady ally of the Romans. His grandson and successor Hieronymus deserted the
alliance of Rome for that of Carthage, which led to the celebrated siege of the
city by the Romans under Marcellus and its fall in 212 (Livy xxiv. 21-33).
Henceforth Syracuse was the capital of the Roman province of Sicily. Cicero
calls it “the greatest of Greek cities and the most beautiful of all cities”
(Cicero Verr. iv. 52).
Source:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Syracuse
A city on the south-east coast of Sicily, where Paul landed and remained
three days when on his way to Rome (Act_28:12).
It was distinguished for its magnitude and splendour. It is now a small town of
some 13,000 inhabitants.
Source:
Easton’s Bible Dictionary