These were Ionic
colonies, and we may close the list with the name of Messene
[Footnote: Originally called Zancle.] founded twenty years later on
the Sicilian side of the strait which bears its name.
We have now to enumerate the principal Dorian cities. First among
these in time, and by far the first in importance, was Syracuse,
founded from Corinth a year after the settlement of Naxos. Between
Syracuse and the mother-city there was a close and intimate tie of
friendship, which remained unbroken throughout the course of Greek
history. The original city was built on the island of Ortygia, but a
new town afterwards arose on the low-lying coast of the mainland, and
spread northwards till it covered the eastern part of the neighbouring
heights. Ortygia was then converted into a peninsula by the
construction of a causeway, connecting the new city with the old.
Under the despotism of Gelo, who made himself master of the city in
the early part of the fifth century, [Footnote: 485 B.C.] Syracuse
rose to great power and splendour, and her territory extended over a
great part of eastern Sicily. Gelo gained immortal renown by defeating
a mighty host of Carthaginians, who invaded Sicily at the time when
the confederate cities of old Greece were fighting for their existence
against Xerxes and his great armada.
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