Dinocrates
Family: Messenian · Role: ruler of the Messenians · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 29
In Book 4, Chapter 29, shortly after being elected ruler of the Messenians, Dinocrates forced Lycortas and his army to withdraw without achieving their aim. By occupying the roads between Messenia and Arcadia, he protected the Messenians and the neighbouring districts from attack.
In Book 8, Chapter 51, Dinocrates poisoned the captured Philopœmen, despite popular demands that he be spared. Not long after, Lycortas marched against Messene, and the popular party joined him. Those involved in Philopœmen’s murder were put to death, except Dinocrates, who committed suicide.
Relationship record
Life events
- Dinocrates forced Lycortas and his army to retire, protecting Messenia from attack.(Book 4 · Chapter 29 · 📍 Messenia)
- With: Lycortas
- “but Dinocrates a prominent man among the people, who had been recently elected ruler of the Messenians, forced Lycortas and the army with him to retire without effecting their object, and having occupied the byroads between Messenia and Arcadia he protected the Messenians in their town and in all the neighbouring districts.”
- Dinocrates poisoned the captured Philopœmen despite popular demands to spare him.(Book 8 · Chapter 51 · 📍 Messene)
- With: Philopœmen
- “But Dinocrates in spite of the popular party took Philopœmen off by poison.”
- Lycortas attacked Messene; Philopœmen’s conspirators were executed, and Dinocrates committed suicide.(Book 8 · Chapter 51 · 📍 Messene)
- With: Lycortas Philopœmen
- “And Lycortas not long after collected a force from Arcadia and from Achaia and marched against Messene, and the popular party in Messene at once fraternized with them, and all except Dinocrates who were privy to the murder of Philopœmen were put to death. And he committed suicide.”
Book 4 · Chapter 29
- with Lycortas (Dinocrates forced Lycortas to withdraw.) “but Dinocrates a prominent man among the people, who had been recently elected ruler of the Messenians, forced Lycortas and the army with him to retire without effecting their object”
- enemies with Lycortas “but Dinocrates a prominent man among the people, who had been recently elected ruler of the Messenians, forced Lycortas and the army with him to retire without effecting their object”
Book 8 · Chapter 51
- with Philopœmen (Dinocrates killed Philopœmen by poisoning him.) “But Dinocrates in spite of the popular party took Philopœmen off by poison”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.