But though the sphere of Timoleon’s activity was coextensive with
Sicily, his residence, his citizenship, and his peculiar interests
and duties were at Syracuse. That city, like most of the other
Sicilian towns, had been born anew, with a numerous body of settlers
and altered political institutions. I have already mentioned that
Kephalus and others, invited from Corinth by express vote of
the Syracusans, had reëstablished the democratical institution
of Dioklês, with suitable modifications. The new era of liberty
was marked by the establishment of a new sacred office, that of
Amphipolus or Attendant Priest of Zeus Olympius; an office changed
annually, appointed by lot (doubtless under some conditions of
qualification which are not made known to us,[398]) and intended,
like the Archon Eponymus at Athens, as the recognized name to
distinguish each Syracusan year. In this work of constitutional
reform, as well as in all the labors and adjustments connected with
the new settlers, Timoleon took a prominent part. But so soon as
the new constitution was consummated and set at work, he declined
undertaking any specific duties or exercising any powers under it.
Enjoying the highest measure of public esteem, and loaded with
honorary and grateful votes from the people, he had the wisdom
as well as the virtue to prefer living as a private citizen; a
resolution doubtless promoted by his increasing failure of eyesight,
which presently became total blindness.[399] He dwelt in the
house assigned to him by public vote of the people, which he had
consecrated to the Holy God, and within which he had set apart a
chapel to the goddess Automatia,—the goddess under whose auspices
blessings and glory came as it were of themselves.[400] To this
goddess he offered sacrifice, as the great and constant patroness
who had accompanied him from Corinth through all his proceedings in
Sicily.
[398] Diodor. xvi. 70; Cicero in Verrem, ii. 51.
[399] Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 38.
[400] Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 38. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς οἰκίας ἱερὸν
ἱδρυσάμενος Αὐτοματίας ἔθυσεν, αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν οἰκίαν Ἱερῷ Δαίμονι
καθιέρωσεν.
Cornelius Nepos, Timoleon, c. 4; Plutarch, Reip. Gerend. Præcept.
p. 816 D.
The idea of Αὐτοματία is not the same as that of Τύχη, though the
word is sometimes translated as if it were. It is more nearly the
same as Ἀγαθὴ Τύχη—though still, as it seems to me, not exactly
the same.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account