Hiero the son of Hierocles

Also known as: Hiero · Family: Syracuse · Role: tyrant · First appears: Book 6 · Chapter 12

Hiero, son of Hierocles, rose to tyrannical power in Syracuse after Agathocles’ death, in the second year of the 126th Olympiad. He had friendly relations with Pyrrhus (son of Æacides), and their families became connected when his son Gelon (son of Hiero the son of Hierocles) married Nereis, Pyrrhus’ daughter.

At the commencement of the war, Hiero allied Syracuse with the Carthaginians; before long, judging Roman power stronger and more lasting, he joined the Romans. He was assassinated at Syracuse by Dinomenes the Syracusan, who hated tyranny. The Syracusan public erected two statues to Hiero and his sons a third; the statues made by Mico the son of Niceratus included one on horseback and one on foot.

Relationship record

Life events

• Hiero rose to the tyrannical power of Syracuse after Agathocles’ death.(Book 6 · Chapter 12 · 📍 Syracuse)
  • “This Hiero after the death of Agathocles, the former tyrant of Syracuse, rose to the same power in the second year of the 126th Olympiad”
• Gelon married Nereis, making Hiero kinsman to Pyrrhus by marriage.(Book 6 · Chapter 12)
  • With: Gelon (son of Hiero the son of Hierocles) Nereis Pyrrhus (son of Æacides)
  • “This Hiero had friendly relations with Pyrrhus the son of Æacides and became his kinsman by marriage, Gelon his son marrying Nereis Pyrrhus’ daughter.”
• Hiero initially allied Syracuse with the Carthaginians against Rome.(Book 6 · Chapter 12 · 📍 Sicily)
  • “on the commencement of the war Hiero resolved to throw in his lot with the Carthaginians”
• Hiero changed allegiance and joined the Romans, judging their power stronger and more lasting.(Book 6 · Chapter 12 · 📍 Sicily)
  • “but in no long time thinking the Roman power stronger and likely to be more lasting he joined them.”
• Dinomenes assassinated Hiero because of his hatred of tyranny.(Book 6 · Chapter 12 · 📍 Syracuse)
  • With: Dinomenes the Syracusan
  • “He was assassinated by Dinomenes, a Syracusan who had an especial hatred to tyranny”
• The Syracusan public erected two statues to Hiero, and his sons erected another.(Book 6 · Chapter 15 · 📍 Syracuse)
  • “the Syracusan public erected two statues to Hiero, and his sons erected a third”

Book 6 · Chapter 12

• child: Hierocles “And next to the chariot of Hiero is Hiero the son of Hierocles”
• friends with Pyrrhus (son of Æacides) “This Hiero had friendly relations with Pyrrhus the son of Æacides”
• with Pyrrhus (son of Æacides) (kinsmen by marriage) “and became his kinsman by marriage”
• child: Gelon (son of Hiero the son of Hierocles) “Gelon his son marrying Nereis Pyrrhus’ daughter.”
• with Dinomenes the Syracusan (assassin and victim) “He was assassinated by Dinomenes, a Syracusan who had an especial hatred to tyranny”
• with Mico the son of Niceratus (interaction) “And the statues of Hiero in Olympia, one on horseback and the other on foot, were erected by his sons, and made by the Syracusan Mico the son of Niceratus.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.