Syracuse
Syracuse names 3 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Syracuse anciently a famous city of Sicily
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
anciently a famous city of Sicily; on the S. E. coast of the island; 80 miles S. S. W. of Messina; was founded by Corinthian settlers about 733 B. C. The colonists seem to have occupied the little isle of Ortygia, which stretches S. E. from the shore. The settlement rapidly rose to prosperity, and toward the end of the 6th century B. C. sent out colonies of its own. Little is known of the early political state of Syracuse; but about 485 the ruling families, probably descendants of the original colonists, were expelled by the lower classes of citizens. Gelon, despot of Gela, restored the exiles and at the same time made himself master of Syracuse. He increased both the population and the power of his new state, and won the highest prestige by a great victory over the Carthaginians at Himera. In his time Achradina, a triangular tableland N. of Ortygia gia and on the adjoining mainland, was built on. This ultimately became the most extensive and populous quarter; it contained the Agora, a temple of Zeus Olympius, the Prytaneum, with a splendid statue of Sappho and fine monuments to Timoleon and the elder Dionysius, etc. At a later date, and possibly thus early, there were two other quarters in the city-Tyche, occupying a plateau to the W. of Achradina; and Neapolis (New City), stretching along the S. slopes of the plateau, and overlooking the marshes of Anapus and the Great Harbor, a spacious and well-sheltered bay to the S. W. of Ortygia. This islet, however, contained the citadel, which overlooked the docks in the Lesser Harbor on the N. Hiero, the successor of Gelon, was celebrated throughout the Greek world as a patron of the fine arts and of men of genius, as Æschylus, Pindar, etc. In 467 B. C. the democracy again got the upper hand Thrasybulus, Hiero's brother and successor, a "tyrant" of the baser sort, being expelled; and for 60 years a free and democratic government was enjoyed, under which Syracuse flourished more than it had ever done. During this period occurred the great struggle with Athens (415-414 b. c.), and the celebrated siege by the Athenian armament, a contest in which the Sicilian city came off victorious. Nine years later Dionysius restored the "tyranny" of Gelon, and during a reign of nearly 40 years greatly increased the strength and importance ortance of the city. It was he who constructed the docks in the Greater and Lesser Harbors, and surrounded the city with fortifications. His fierce war with Carthage (397 B. C.) raised the renown of Syracuse still higher. The reigns of the younger Dionysius and of Dion, the friend of Plato, were unsettled; but after the restoration of public liberty by Timoleon (343 b. c.) a brief season of tranquillity ensued. In 317 B. c., 20 years after the death of the noble Timoleon, Agathocles, a rude soldier of fortune, once more restored the despotic form of government, which continued with scarcely an interruption through the reign (50 years) of the enlightened Hiero II., the friend and ally of Rome, down to the conquest of the city by the Romans after a siege of two years, in which Archimedes perished (212 b. c.). This event was occasioned during the Hannibalic war by Hieronymus, a rash and vain young man, abandoning the prudent policy of his grandfather, Hiero, breaking the alliance with Rome, and joining his and their foes, the Carthaginians. Carthaginians. Under the Romans Syracuse slowly declined, though with its handsome public buildings and its artistic and intellectual culture, it always continued to be the first city of Sicily. It was captured, pillaged, and burned by the Saracens in A. D. 878, and after that sank into complete decay. The modern city, Siracusa, is confined to the original limits, Ortygia, which, however, is no longer an island, but a peninsula. The streets, which are defended by walls and a citadel, are, with few exceptions, narrow and dirty. Syracuse has a cathedral (the ancient temple of Minerva), a museum of classical antiquities, a public library with some curious MSS., numerous churches, monasteries, and nunneries, the ancient fountain of Arethusa (its waters mingled with sea water since the earthquake of 1170), and remains of ancient Greek and Roman temples, aqueducts, the citadel Euryalus, a theater, an amphitheater, and quarries, besides ancient Christian catacombs. The people manufacture chemicals and pottery, and trade in fruits, olive oil, wine (exports), wheat, timber, and petroleum. Pop. about 27,- 500.
Syracuse a city of New York
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a city of New York, the county seat of Onondaga co. It is on the Onondaga Lake, the New York State Barge Canal, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, and the Ontario and Western railroads. There are six interurban lines radiating from the city which give excellent passenger and freight service. The present city includes the former villages of Danford, Geddes, Syracuse, and Salina. Syracuse is an important industrial city. In the manufacture of tool steel and automobile gears, it ranks first. Other industries include the manufacture of agricultural implements, china ware, shoes, typewriters, automobiles, etc. There are within the city limits over 1,000 manufacturing establish ments, with total of over 40,000 a employees. Syracuse is situated in the midst of the beautiful lake region of New York State and is surrounded by attractive and diversified scenery. There are over 60 parks within the city limits, including children's playgrounds, public golf courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, skating rinks, etc. The total area of the park system is 361 acres. The city has an excellent system of public schools, of which there are 40, attended by about 25,000 pupils, with over 700 teachers. In addition there are 25 parochial and private schools. It is the seat of Syracuse University. Among the notable public buildings are the Central High School, a court house, a public library, a city hall, and a museum of fine arts. Its institutions include the State Asylum for Feeble Minded Children, the House of Providence Orphan Asylum, county orphan asylum, an old ladies' home, and five hospitals. The city has over 100 churches and over 50 theaters. There are about 125 miles of paved streets and over 200 miles of sewers. There were in 1920 three national banks, three trust companies, and two savings banks, with total deposits of $132,909,273. The assessed value in 1920 was $181,770,758, and the tax rate $23.18 per thousand. On the State Fair Grounds one of the greatest annual fairs in the United States is held annually. Syracuse was settled about 1805, and became important after the completion of the Erie Canal. It was incorporated as a village in 1825. In the earlier years it had great importance from the deposits of salt and the State purchased a large tract of land containing salt springs, part of which was afterward sold to individuals. The manufacture of salt from the brine pumped out of these springs was formerly the main industry of the city, but is now of minor importance. Pop. (1910) 137,249; (1920) 171,- 717.
Syracuse sir'a-kus, an ancient city of Sicily
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
sir'a-kus, an ancient city of Sicily. It was situated at the extreme south-eastern corner of the island. In the days of Greek colonization Syracuse was a Greek city. It was founded by Greeks from Corinth about 734 B. C. It was at one time the largest and wealthiest commercial city in the world. As an intellectual center, Syracuse vied in its prime with Athens and Alexandria. There were half a million inhabitants. Remains may yet be seen of a Greek temple, baths, and theater. The present town has a population of about 32,000. It is a center of trade in olive oil, lemons, and oranges. A local movement has been established for the preservation of coins, sculpture, and other relics of antiquity. See Archimedes ; Theocritus ; Dionysius ; Arethusa ; Sicily
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's in 1921 found the Sicilian city "confined to the original limits, Ortygia" with narrow, dirty streets and about 27,500 people; Siracusa today has roughly 120,000 inhabitants, sprawls well beyond the old island, and its Greek theatre, catacombs and Ortygia core were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005 (jointly with the rock-cut necropolis of Pantalica). The American Syracuse has moved in the opposite direction from what the 1921 account implies: the city that "ranks first" in tool steel and automobile gears lost almost all of it, as Syracuse China shut in 2009 and the New Process Gear plant closed in 2012, while the university, hospitals and services became the main employers. Population peaked around 220,000 in 1950 and is now nearer 145,000. The Barge Canal that ran through the middle of town was abandoned there and paved over as Erie Boulevard within a few years of Collier's writing.
Written for this edition, 2026.