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Hiero I (/ˈhaɪəroʊ/; alsoHieron/ˈhaɪərɒn/;Ancient Greek:Ἱέρων) was the son ofDeinomenes, the brother ofGelon andtyrant ofSyracuse inSicily, from 478 to 467 BC.[1] In succeeding Gelon, he conspired against a third brother, Polyzelos.
During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse. He removed the inhabitants ofNaxos andCatania toLeontini, peopled Catania (which he renamedAetna) withDorians, concluded an alliance withTheron, the tyrant of Acragas (Agrigentum), and espoused the cause of theLocrians againstAnaxilas, tyrant ofRhegium.[2]
His most important military achievement was the defeat of theEtruscans at theBattle of Cumae (474 BC), by which he saved the Greeks ofCampania from Etruscan domination. A bronze helmet (now in theBritish Museum[3]), with an inscription commemorating the event, was dedicated atOlympia.[2]
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 poetsSimonides,Pindar,Bacchylides,Aeschylus, andEpicharmus were active at his court, as well the philosopherXenophanes. 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 atDelphi 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.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hieros.v. Hiero I.".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 453.| Preceded by: Gelo | Tyrant ofGela 485 BC – 478 BC | Succeeded by: Polyzelus |
| Preceded by: Gelo | Tyrant of Syracuse 478 BC – 467 BC | Succeeded by: Thrasybulus |
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