Sosistratus

(Σωσίστρατος).

1. A Syracusan, who shared with Heracleides in the chief direction of the affairs of his native country, a few years previous to the elevation of Agathocles. The account given by Diodorus of the steps by which they had raised themselves to power is lost, but that author tells us in general terms that they were men accustomed to treachery, bloodshed, and every species of crime. (Diod. 19.3, and Wesseling, ad loc.) We find them both holding the joint command of an expedition sent by the Syracusans to assist the Crotoniats against the Bruttians. as well as of a subsequent armament which laid siege to Rhegium; but Sosistratus appears to have held the first place, and we soon after find him spoken of as having raised himself to the rank of tyrant or absolute ruler of Syracuse. The revolution, by which he effected this, appears to have been connected with a victory of the oligarchical party in the city, but their triumph was of short duration, and Sosistratus himself was soon after expelled from Syracuse together with 600 of the leading men of the aristocratical party. War now arose between the democratic party, who remained in possession of Syracuse, and the exiles, in which the latter, supported by assistance from the Carthaginians, were not only able to maintain their ground, but, after many vicissitudes of fortune, procured their recal to their native city. It is doubtful whether Sosistratus himself was included in the accommodation which appears to have reinstated the oligarchy in the chief power, as his name does not occur in the revolutions which followed, and which ended in the elevation of Agathocles. B. C. 317. (Diod. 19.3-5.) At a subsequent period however (B. C. 314) we find him mentioned as one of the most active and able of the Syracusan exiles assembled at Agrigentum, who from thence carried on war against Agathocles; and the prominent place which he occupied at this time directed against him the especial enmity of the Spartan Acrotatus, who in consequence contrived to remove him by assassination. (Diod. 19.71.) It is singular that Polyaenus (5.37) seems to represent Sosistratus as acquiring the sovereign power after Agathocles, instead of before him : but the circumstances related by him are wholly irreconcilable with the narrative of Diodorus. (Compare also Trog. Pomp. Prol. xxi.)

2. A Syracusan who, together with Thoenon or Thynion, for a time held the supreme power in his native city, during the interval of confusion which preceded the arrival of Pyrrhus. After the expulsion of Hicetas (about B. C. 279), Thynion alone is mentioned as succeeding him in the chief direction of affairs, but we soon after find Sosistratus dividing with him the power. Our imperfect accounts however give us very little idea of the real state of affairs. It appears that Sosistratus and Thynion both relied upon the support of foreign mercenaries : and were engaged in civil war with one another, in which the former had the advantage, and occupied the city of Syracuse, while Thynion fortified himself in the island citadel. Sosistratus was also master of Agrigentum and not less than thirty other cities, and found himself at the head of a force of 10.000 troops, so that he would probably have crushed his rival, had it not been for the arrival of the Carthaginians, who laid siege to Syracuse both by sea and land. Thus oppressed at once by civil dissensions and external enemies, both parties implored the assistance of Pyrrhus, and on his arrival Sosistratus surrendered the city into his hands, and Thynion the citadel. A reconciliation was now effected between the rivals, who thenceforth supported Pyrrhus with their joint efforts; and Sosistratus placed all the cities and troops at his disposal in the hands of the king, while he assisted him in recovering Agrigentum, which had fallen into the hands of the Carthaginians. For these services however, he met with no gratitude; the arrogance of Pyrrhus having alienated the minds of all the Sicilians and rendered the king in return suspicious of all the leading men among them, he took an opportunity to put Thynion to death, and Sosistratus narrowly escaped sharing the same fate. His name is not again mentioned. Further Information

Diod. xxii. Exc. Hoeschel. p. 495-497; Dionys. Exc. 19.6-8. pp. 2360-2362, ed Reiske; Plut. Pyrrh. 23. Sostratus vs. Sosistratus

The name is written Sostratus in many manuscripts and editions, but the form Sosistratus appears to be the more correct. [E.H.B]