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Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) is a city on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy.
Syracuse was founded in 734 BC by Greek settlers from Corinth, who called it Sirako ("swamp"). The settlers found the land to be fertile and the native tribes to be reasonably well-disposed to their presence. The city grew and prospered, and for some time stood as the most powerful Greek city anywhere in the Mediterranean.
In the late 5th century BC, Syracuse found itself at war with Athens, which sought more resources to fight the Peloponnesian War. The Syracusans enlisted the aid of a general from Sparta, Athens' foe in the war, to defeat the Athenians, destroy their ships, and leave them to starve on the island (see Sicilian Expedition). Not long after, in the early 4th century BC, the tyrantA tyrant (from Greek υ) is a usurper of rightful power, possessing absolute power and ruling by tyranny. In the original Greek meaning "tyrant" carried no ethical censure, a tyrant was anyone who overturned the established government of a city-sta DionysiusThis page is about Dionysius the tyrant of Syracuse. For Dionysus the Greek god, see Dionysus. Dionysius (c. 432- 367 BC), tyrant of Syracuse, began life as a clerk in a public office, but by courage and diplomacy succeeded in making himself supreme. managed to fight a war against CarthageThis article is about the ancient city-state of Carthage in North Africa. For other uses of the word, see Carthage (disambiguation). Mediterranean Sea, showing location of Carthage (near modern Tunis). Map also shows Italy and the islands Sicily, Sardinia and keep that power from capturing the whole of Sicily.
Perhaps the most famous Syracusan was the natural philosopherNatural philosophy is a term applied to the objective study of nature and the physical universe before the development of modern science. In other words, all forms of science historically developed out of philosophy or more specifically natural philosophy ArchimedesSee also Archimedes computer, Archimedes (disambiguation). Archimedes of Syracuse (circa 287 BC 212 BC), was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist and engineer. He was killed by a Roman soldier during the sack of the city, despite orde. Among his many inventions were various military engines including the claw of ArchimedesThe Claw of Archimedes was a war machine devised by Archimedes to defend the seaward portion of Syracuse's city wall against amphibious assualt. Although its exact nature is unclear, the accounts of ancient historians seem to describe it as a sort of cran, used to resist a Roman60 and 400 with major cities. During this time only Dacia and Mesopotamia were added to the Empire but were lost before 300. The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman state in the centuries following its reorganization under t siege. The city held out for three years, but fell in 212 BC.
Another siege in AD 878 inaugurated two centuries of Muslim rule.
Syracuse today has about 125,000 inhabitants and numerous attractions for the visitor interested in historical sites. Nearby places of note include Catania, Noto, Modica and Ragusa.
One city and six small municipalities in the United States have been named after Syracuse:
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