The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian/Book XI/Chapter XVI

Chapter XVI

 * The death of Hiero.

LYSIATUS being governor or archon of Athens, the Romans chose Lucius Pinarius Mamercinus and Lucius Furius Fusus, their consuls. At this time Hiero, king of Syracuse, invited to him, with many rich presents, the sons of Anaxilaus, prince of Zanele, now Messana in Sicily, and put them in mind how kind Gelon had been to their father, and advised them, now they were come to men's estate, to call Micythus their tutor to account, and to take the sovereign power and government into their own hands. Being returned to Rhegium, they forthwith demanded an account of Micythus of his administration; who, being a just and honest man, called together all the friends of the two young men, and gave so full and clear an account of his trust, that all then present admired his justice and faithfulness. The youths, now sorry for what they had done, desired him to take upon him again the government, and as their father, to order and dispose of all affairs as he thought fit. But Micythus utterly refused to be any longer concerned; but giving up all, shipped his goods and sailed forth from Rhegium, with the general love and favour of the people, and made for Greece, where he lived the rest of his time in great repute at Tegea in Arcadia. Hiero died at Catana, a city repeopled by him, and there was buried with great pomp and solemnity, after he had reigned eleven years. He left his kingdom to Thrasybulus his brother, who reigned only one year.