Dear Friends,
It seems to me the story of Dion is pretty interesting. I’ll recount it as best I can from memory…
In ancient times, when Greece was in full bloom, the island of Sicily had more than it’s share of political scandals. The government of Syracuse was the tyrant Dionysius. He oppressed the people, not only of Syracuse, but the whole of Sicily. His tyranny was well known throughout the Mediterranean World at the time. Dion was his sister’s husband… and Dionysius’ General.
Dionysius had a taste for philosophy and invited Plato to come and enjoy Dionysius’ lavish company. Plato came to visit and was immediately put into “protective” custody. Dionysius went to Plato and debated philosophy daily. They became fast friends. But Plato, always at the suffrage of Dionysius. As time went by, Plato fixed upon a scheme to escape back to Athens, and elude the clutches of Dionysius. In this he had the help of Dion.
Dion arranged for Plato’s flight to Athens, behind the back of his brother in law… Dionysius. Plato made his escape and got safely back to Athens. Dionysius was furious. He searched long and hard for the traitor who had helped Plato, his personal philosopher… escape. Finally, he happened upon information it was Dion, who had been the wheel man to Plato’s escape. He sent dudes to pick Dion up.
Dion, constantly wary that Dionysius would find out, discovered his arrest had been ordered. Given Dionysius’ penchant for torture and the death penalty the outcome was pretty obvious. Dion slipped out of Syracuse by night and made his way to another Sicilian town. I don’t remember which. He lobbied to get a few men to follow him. The leaders were afraid of the repercussions… were Dionysius to find out. On the other hand Dion was proposing the overthrow of Dionysius! It turned out to be too tempting and they threw in.
Dion slipped back into Syracuse with his men. They sneaked past guards and into Dionysius’ chambers. The small cabal jumped Dionysius. They captured him and his guards, then declared themselves masters of the city. The people were convened and consulted about what to do with the deposed tyrant Dionysius. The thing was put to a vote and Dionysius was banished from Sicily. He was sent to Italy to live out the rest of his life. Dion then arranged for free and fair elections to take place.
Dionysius’ other generals asked if they were to be ostracized as well. Dion, feeling merciful, plead their cause to the people. The people voted to allow the former generals of Dionysius to remain. And in fact participate in the upcoming elections.
Once the elections got underway the generals spread rumors about Dion… that he favored arbitrary rule, he was undependable. After all, they would say, didn’t he stab Dionysius in the back by helping that foreigner, Plato, escape his sovereign. Dion’s reputation was abused in every way.
Dion was of the opinion however, that the people would be smart enough to see through these obvious lies. After all, hadn’t he, Dion, deposed the tyrant? Hadn’t Dion put everything to be done, after Dionysius’ overthrow, to the popular vote? Even to the point of arguing for his very opponents in their trials!
The vote was taken. The generals won. They immediately brought back Dionysius from banishment and put him back on the throne. Dionysius took terrible revenge on the people who had voted to banish him. Their families were punished too. The people of Syracuse had voted themselves a far worse oppressor than they had labored under before. Dion was caught, tortured, and killed horribly. Blood flowed from the gates of Syracuse for a month.
The next time the people of Syracuse were delivered from Dionysius, through no virtuous action of their own, was when Timoleon smashed Dionysius’ army and established a democracy there. The people erected a statue to Timoleon. I don’t know if it is still there.
Take of it what you will. The thing I take from this story is… Not everyone is as lucky as the ancient Syracusians…
Sincerely,
John Pepin
