Source edition
Cornelius Nepos. Cornelii Nepotis Vitae. Fleckeisen, Alfred; Halm, Karl, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1886.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This biography depicts the turbulent life of Dion, a prominent politician of Syracuse. Possessing exceptional talents, Dion is highly favored by the tyrant Dionysius I and successfully invites the philosopher Plato to Syracuse, but conflict arises with the successor, Dionysius II. Banished by the tyrant and seeing his family driven to ruin, Dion raises an army, liberates Syracuse, and successfully corners the tyrant. However, after assassinating his co-leader Heracleides due to deepening conflict, Dion loses public support and becomes plagued by anxiety and suspicion. Ultimately, Dion is brutally assassinated through a conspiracy orchestrated by his trusted acquaintance Callicrates. Upon his death, the citizens quickly reverse their hostility, praising him as the "liberator of their country" and honoring him with a public funeral.