Career
In succeeding Gelon, he conspired against a third brother Polyzelos. During his reign, he greatly increased the power of Syracuse. He removed the inhabitants of Naxos and Catana to Leontini, peopled Catana (which he renamed Aetna) with Dorians, concluded an alliance with Acragas (Agrigentum) and espoused the cause of the Locrians against Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegium.
A bronze helmet (now in the British Museum), with an inscription commemorating the event, was dedicated at Olympia.
Hieron"s reign was marked by the creation of the first secret police in Greek history, and he was a liberal patron of literature and culture. The poets Simonides, Pindar, Bacchylides, Aeschylus, and Epicharmus were active at his court, as well the philosopher Xenophanes.
He was an active participant in panhellenic athletic contests, winning several victories in the single horse race and also in the chariot race. 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 Catana/Aetna in 467 and was buried there, but his grave was later destroyed when the former inhabitants of Catana returned to the city.
The tyranny at Syracuse lasted only a year or so after his death.
