One Agathocles, a potter’s son who had moved from his native town of Thermae Himeraeae to Syracuse about 343 BCE, had learned his father's trade, but afterwards entered the army and served with distinction under Timoleon.

In 333, he had married the widow of his patron Damas, a distinguished and wealthy citizen.

He has been twice banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party.

Returning in 317 with an army of mercenaries drawn from cities chafing under Syracusan domination, he takes a solemn oath to observe the democratic constitution which is then set up.

Forcibly establishing himself as “strategus auticrator,” he also appropriates the title of “general plenipotentiary,” accorded in the past only to Dionysius the Elder.

In what comes to be called Agathocles’ Massacre, he murders his political opposition and members of the ruling Council of Six Hundred, in all killing or banishing an estimated ten thousand persons.

As master of Syracuse, he creates a strong army and fleet and subdues the greater part of Sicily.