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AGATHOCLES IN SICILIA ET IN AFRICA
3 "7 304 a-C.
I'.. 1 .
317-16.—Agathooles becomes despot of Syracuse. Leontini, C'amarina, Catana, and Tauroincniuni are dependencies of his, also
a large number of the Sicel states. Opposed to him are llessana, (iela, Acragas, which were allied with Carthage,
and with .Syracusan oligarch e.xiles.
315. — Agathodes proceeds against ilessana, which he fails to capture, though he captures Mj'lae, its dependency.
314. — Syracusan exiles in Acragas start war against Agathocles ;
(iela and Messana join them.
Acrotatus, son of Cleomenes II. of Spaita, sails with a few ships by waj- of ApoUonia and Tarentum to Acragas.
Acrotatus, however, incurs the hatred of the .Siceliots, and has to return to Sparta ; the Tarentines recall the ships
they had sent to liclp the allies against Agathocles ;
and the alliance thus breaks down.
313.—Peace is made by Carthaginian mediation.
312.—Messana gives refuge to Syracusan exiles. Agathocles sends Pasiphilus with an army against Messana, which surrenders,
expels the exiles and admits Agathocles' troops.
Agathocles now threatens Acragas, but 60 Carthaginian ships arrive and compel him to abandon the siege. He then
invades Carthaginian territory and captures many posts.
Fifty Carthaginian ships (probably from Acragas) attempt to surprise Syracuse, but only capture two merchant ships.
311. — Deinocrates, leader of the Syracusan exiles, in league with Carthage, collects an army and sends Xymphodorus against
Centuripae. which had a garrison of Agathocles. X3'mphodorus enters Centuripae by treachery, but is captured.
Deinocrates himself marches against Galaria, and wins it by treachery.
Agathocles sends Pasiphilus aiul Demophilus against him. Thej' defeat Deinocrates and recover (ialaria.
Carthaginians occupy a strong position on the coast near Ecnomus, in the territory of Gela, to protect Acragas.
Agathocles marches against them, but as they could not be compelled to fight, he returns to Syracuse.
310.—In the spring Carthage sends a large fleet and army to Sicily under Hamilcar, son of Gisgo. After losses by storm, he
arrives at Ecnomus.
Meanwhile 20 ships of Agathocles are captured by Carthaginians in the straits of Messana.
Agathocles seizes (iela, leaves a garrison tliere, and encamps at Phalariuni over against the Carthaginians.
In the battle which takes place, Agathocles is defeated and retreats, with great loss, to Gela, where Hamilcar
commences to invest him.
Hamilcar, tinding investment unpromising, marches into Agathocles' territory and wins over Cainarina, Leontini,
Catana, Tauromcnium, iles.