Philistus

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Philistus
Φίλιστος
Bornc. 432 BC
Died356 BC (aged c. 76)

Philistus (Greek: Φίλιστος; c. 432 – 356 BC), son of Archomenidas, was a Greek historian from Sicily, Magna Graecia.

Life

Philistus was born in

historiographers, and his work was highly valued by Alexander the Great
.

Philistus was quite wealthy. Before his rise to power, Dionysius criticized the generals of Syracuse on their poor performance against the Carthaginians, and was fined by the assembly for his seditious language. Philistus stepped in to pay Dionysius' fines, with the promise to continue paying them so long as the council saw fit to issue them. It was through Philistus' support that Dionysius was able to rise to power and control Syracuse.[citation needed]

In 386 BC, without consulting the tyrant, Philistus married the daughter of Dionysius' brother

Agrigentum by the Carthaginians (406 BC); the second, the history of the elder and the younger Dionysius (down to 363 BC). From this point the work was carried on by Athanas.[citation needed
]

Philistus was then recalled by the younger

Zacynthus
with the object of liberating Syracuse in 356 BC, Philistus was entrusted by Dionysius II with the command of the fleet. After a lengthy sea battle, his ship was surrounded. Philistus took his own life to avoid retribution from his countrymen.

Notes

  1. , p.48f.
  2. ^ Plutarch: Life of Dion, ch. 11-16.

References