Ancient Greek Syracuse
Ancient Greek Syracuse was a major military and commercial power ruling very diverse territory in the south-eastern corner of Sicily, with a long coastal strip and a mountainous hinterland. This territory was controlled through a number of outposts along the coast and inland, including Helorus, Akrai, and Kamarina. In this way ancient Greek Syracuse became one of the best defended cities in the ancient world.
The population of ancient Greek Syracuse is uncertain but is likely to have been around 200,000 in the time of the tyrant Gelon, 485-478 BC, and around 300,000 at the time of the Athenian invasion in 415 BC. By the third century BC ancient Greek Syracuse may have reached 500,000 inhabitants or more, around two thirds living in the city and one third in the hinterland farming the land. The outline of ancient Greek Syracuse as described by the ancient writers is still clearly visible today.
Find out more about ancient Greek Syracuse
On this website, you will find information about the ancient Greek city of Syracuse, and about other places in Sicily you can visit while staying in Siracusa.
Jeremy Dummett's book Syracuse, City of Legends is available from Amazon and all good bookshops, including the Libreria Gabò, 38 Corso Matteotti, Ortygia, Syracuse.