Hicetas

• A tyrant of Leontini, Nep. Tim. 2, 3.—
• II A philosopher of Syracuse, Cic. Ac. 2 (Luc.), 39, 123 dub. (al. Nicetas).

(Ἱκέτας or Ἱκέτης). (1) A Syracusan, contemporary with the younger Dionysius and Timoleon. He was at first a friend of Dion, after whose death (B.C. 353) his wife Areté and his sister Aristomaché placed themselves under the care of Hicetas; but he was persuaded, notwithstanding, to consent to their destruction. A few years later he became tyrant of Leontini. He carried on war against the younger Dionysius, whom he defeated, and had made himself master of the whole city, except the island citadel, when Timoleon landed in Sicily, B.C. 344. Hicetas then opposed Timoleon and called in the aid of the Carthaginians, but he was defeated and put to death by Timoleon, B.C. 339 or 338.

(2) Tyrant of Syracuse, during the interval between the reign of Agathocles and that of Pyrrhus. He defeated Phintias, tyrant of Agrigentum, and was himself defeated by the Carthaginians. After a reign of nine years (B.C. 288-279), he was expelled from Syracuse.

• Paus. 8.5.13
• father of Aristocrates: Paus. 4.17.2