empire—accession of Philip of Macedon. 311-383 CHAPTER LXXXI. SICILIAN AFFAIRS AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ATHENIAN ARMAMENT BEFORE SYRACUSE. Syracuse after the destruction of the Athenian armament.—Anticipation of the impending ruin of Athens—revolution at Thurii.—Syracusan squadron under Hermokrates goes to act against Athens in the Ægean.—Disappointed hopes—defeat at Kynossema—second ruinous defeat at Kyzikus.—Sufferings of the Syracusan seamen—disappointment and displeasure at Syracuse.—Banishment of Hermokrates and his colleagues. Sentence communicated by Hermokrates to the armament.—Internal state of Syracuse—constitution of Diokles.—Difficulty of determining what that constitution was.—Invasion from Carthage.—State of the Carthaginians.—Extent of Carthaginian empire—power, and population—Liby-Phœnicians.—Harsh dealing of Carthage towards her subjects. Colonies sent out from Carthage.—Military force of Carthage.—Political constitution of Carthage.—Oligarchical system and sentiment at Carthage.—Powerful families at Carthage—Mago, Hamilkar, Hasdrubal.—Quarrel between Egesta and Selinus in Sicily.—Application of Egesta to Carthage for aid—application granted—eagerness of Hannibal.—Carthaginian envoys sent to Sicily.—Hannibal crosses over to Sicily with a very large armament. He lays siege to Selinus.—Vigorous assault on Selinus—gallant resistance—the town is at length stormed.—Selinus is sacked and plundered—merciless slaughter.—Delay of the Syracusans and others in sending aid. Answer of Hannibal to their embassy.—Hannibal marches to Himera and besieges it. Aid from Syracuse under Diokles—sally from Himera. Hannibal destroys Himera, and slaughters three thousand prisoners, as an expiation to the memory of his grandfather.—Alarm throughout the Greeks of Sicily—Hannibal dismisses his army, and returns to Carthage.—New intestine discord in Syracuse—Hermokrates comes to Sicily.—He levies troops to effect his return by force.—He is obliged to retire—he establishes himself in the ruins of Selinus, and acts against the Carthaginians.—His father attempts to reënter Syracuse, with the bones of the Syracusans slain near Himera. Banishment of Diokles.—Hermokrates tries again to penetrate into Syracuse with an armed force.—He is defeated and slain.—First appearance of Dionysius at Syracuse.—Weakness of Syracuse, arising out of this political discord—party of Hermokrates. Danger from Carthage.—Fresh invasion of Sicily, by the Carthaginians. Immense host under Hannibal and Imilkon.—Great alarm in Sicily—active preparations for defence at Agrigentum.—Grandeur, wealth, and population of Agrigentum.—The Carthaginians attack Agrigentum. They demolish the tombs near its walls. Distemper among their army. Religious terrors—sacrifice.—Syracusan reinforcement to Agrigentum, under Daphnæus. His victory over the Iberians. He declines to