Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/1091

 SYRACUSAE. SYRACUSAE. 1067 supposed by Col. Leake); hut it is certain that a I the importance of this was sufficiently shown in the strong fort was erected there by Dioiiysius I.*, and | reign of Agathocles, when the attack of Hauiilcar /'^/"0:±j VIEW OF THE FORT EURYALUS. was repulsed by means of a strong garrison posted at Euryalus, who attacked his army in flank, while advancing to the attack of Epipolae. (Diod. xx. 29.) Some writers on the topography of Syracuse have supposed the fortress of Mongibellisi to be the ancient Hexapylura, and that Euryalus occupied the site of Belvedere, a knoll or hill on the ridge which is continued from Momjihellisi inland, and forms a communication with the table-land of the interior. l<ut the hill of Belvedere, which is a mile distant from Mongibellisi, though somewhat more elevated than the latter point, is connected with it only by a narrow ridge, and is altogether too far from the table-land of Epipolae to have been of any import- ance in connection with it ; while the heights of Mongibellisi, as already observed, form the true key of that position. Moreover, all the passages that relate to Hexapylum, when attentively considered, point to its position on the N. front of the heights, looking towards Megara and Thapsus; and Colonel Leake has satisfactorily shown that it was a fort constructed for the defence of the main approach to Syracuse on this side ; a road which then, as now, ascended the heights at a point a short distance W. of the Scala Greca, where a depression or break in the line of clitfs affords a natural approach. (Leake, Azotes on Syraciise, pp. 258, 342, &c.) The gate at Hexapylum thus led, in the first in- stance, into the suburb or quarter of Tycha, a circumstance completely in accordance with, if not neces.sarily required by, a passage in Livy (xxiv. 21), where the two are mentioned in close con- nection. It is more difficult to determine the exact position of Labd.lum, where the Athenians erected a fort 'luring the siege of Syracuse. The name is not subsequently mentioned in history, so that we have no knowledge of its relation to the fortifications as they existed in later times ; and our only clue to its positicin is the description of Thucydides, that it stood " on the summit of the cliffs of Epipolae, look- ing towards IMcgara." It was probably situated (as placed by GliUer and Jlr. Grote) on the point of those heights which forms a slightly projecting taken by Dion, which was then evidently held by a separate garrison. (Plut. Dion. 23.) angle near the farmhouse now called Targia. Its purpose was, doubtle.ss, to secure the communications of the Athenians with their fleet which lay at Thapsus, as well as with the landing-place at Leon. It was not till the reign of the elder Dionysius (as we have already seen) that the heights of Epipolae were included within the walls or forti- fications of Syracuse. Nor are we to suppose that even after that time they became peopled like the rest of the city. The object of the walls then erected was merely to secure the heights against military occupation by an enemy. For that purpose he in b. c. 402 constructed a line of wall 30 stadia in length, fortified with nunierous towers, and ex- tending along the whole N. front of the plateau, from the NW. angle of Achradina to the hill of Euryalus. (Diod. xiv. 18.) The latter point must at the same time have been occupied with a strong fort. The north side of Epipolae was thus securely guarded ; but it is singular that we hear of no similar defence for the S. side. There is no doubt that this was ultimately protected by a wall of the same character, as the remains of it may be traced all around the edge of the plateau ; but the period of its construction is uncertain. The portion of the cliffs extending from Euryalus to Neapolis may have been thought sufficiently strong by nature ; but this was not the case with the slope towards Neapolis, which was easily accessible. Yet this appears to have continued the weakest side of the city, as in B. c. 396 Himilco was able to plunder the temples in the suburb of Temenitis with apparently little difficulty. At a later period, however, it is certain from exist- ing remains, that not only was there a line of forti- fications carried along the upper escarpment as fur as Neapolis, but an outer line of walls was carried round that suburb, which was now included for all purjjoscs as part of the city. Strabo reckons the whole circuit of the walls of Syracuse, including the fortifications of Epipolae, at 180 stadia (Strab. vi. p. 270); but this statement exceeils the truth, the actual circuit being about 14 English miles, or 122 stadia. (Leake, p. 279.) It only remains to notice briefly the different localities in the immediate neighbourhood of Syra- cuse, which are noticed by ancient writers in con- nection with that city. Of these the most important
 * This must have been the fort on Epipolae