The city was founded around 688 BC by colonists from Rhodos (Rhodes) and Crete, 45 years after the founding of Syracuse. The colony was named after the river Gela to which the colony was positioned near. The Greeks had many colonies in Southern Italy, their influence there also meant they had great influence in Sicily. They established colonies in Sicily, among them Syracuse, Himera and Gela. Gela quickly flourished and after about a century on existence the Geloi established a colony in modern day Agrigento. The esxpansion led to social strains that led to the lower class to leave the city, however, the great priest of Diana opposed the revolt and they were brought back.
For a century Gela is not mentioned in any historical documents and it is clear that it had gone into decline. However, in 498 BCE the tyrant Hippocrates of Gela conquered Callipoli, Leontini, Naxos, Hergetios and Zancles (the current Messina). Only Syracuse, with the help of the founding city of Corinth avoided capture. Wen Camarina, a Syracusan colony, rebelled in 492 BC, Hippocrates intervened to wage war against Syracuse. he defeated the Syracusian army at the Heloros river but was convinced to retreat after given possesion of Camarina. He died in battle in 494 BCE with the Siculi, the natives of Sicily.
Hippocrates was succeeded by Gelo who conquered Syracuse in 484 BCE and moved his seat of government there. His brother Hiero was given control of Gela. Soon afterwards Theron of Agrigento conquered Himera and a Carthaginian army embarked for Sicily to counter him Theron called on Syracuse and Gela for assistance. In the subsequent battle of Himera the Carthaginians were defeated.
After the death of Gelo in 478 BCE Hiero moved to Syracuse leaving Gela to Poyzelos. After these events the hitory of the city becomes uncertain, and it has been suggested that the citizens overcame the tyrants and established a democracy.
from Wikipedia:
Many of the Geloi returned from Syracuse in this period, and the city regained part of its power: Aischylos died in this city in 456 BC. Gela was at the head of the Sicilian league that pushed back the Athenian attempt to conquer the island in 424 BCE.
In 406 the Carthaginians conquered Agrigento and destroyed it. Gela asked for the help of Dionysius I of Syracuse. However, for unknown reasons, the latter did not arrive in time and, after heroic deeds, Gela was turned into ruins and its treasures sacked (405). The survivors took refuge in Syracuse. In 397 they returned home and joined Dionysius II in his struggle for the freedom from the invaders, and in 383 BC they saw their independence acknowledged.
Under Agathocles (317-289 BC) the city suffered again for internal strife between the general population and the aristocrats. When the Carthaginians arrived in 311 BC, they met little resistance and captured the city with the help of the aristoi. In 282 BC Phintias of Agrigento, who had founded a city next to the modern Licata, destroyed ruthlessly Gela to crush forever its power.
Re: Previews
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Old_King_Coal
Bookmarks