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Antander

Background

Antander of Syracuse was a significant historical figure who lived during the late 4th century BCE. He is best known as the brother of Agathocles, the tyrant and later self-declared king of Syracuse. Antander played a crucial role as a military leader and administrator during Agathocles' rule and his ambitious campaigns, particularly the daring expedition to North Africa against Carthage.

Background and Early Life:

• Family and Origins: Antander was born into a prominent family in Syracuse. His brother, Agathocles, rose to power through a combination of military skill, political maneuvering, and ambition.
• Supporting Agathocles: As Agathocles' brother, Antander was closely involved in his rise to power and the consolidation of his rule over Syracuse.

Role in Agathocles' Campaigns:

1. Military Leadership:

   • Defense of Syracuse: During Agathocles' campaigns, Antander was often entrusted with significant responsibilities. When Agathocles embarked on his bold expedition to North Africa to take the fight to Carthage, Antander was left in charge of the defense of Syracuse.
   • Siege of Syracuse (310-309 BCE): While Agathocles was in Africa, Carthaginian forces besieged Syracuse. Antander played a crucial role in organizing the city's defenses, maintaining morale, and repelling the Carthaginian attacks. His leadership was vital in holding the city against a formidable enemy.

2. Support in North Africa:

   • Coordination and Supplies: Antander also played a role in coordinating efforts to support Agathocles' forces in North Africa. Ensuring the supply lines and reinforcements were maintained was critical to the success of the campaign.

Legacy and Historical Significance:

1. Support to Agathocles:

   • Loyalty and Effectiveness: Antander's loyalty to his brother and effectiveness as a military leader and administrator were crucial to Agathocles' successes. His ability to manage Syracuse's defenses while Agathocles was away allowed the campaign in North Africa to proceed without the immediate threat of losing their base of power.
   • Critical Role: Without Antander's capable management of Syracuse, Agathocles' ambitious plans might have collapsed under the pressure of the Carthaginian siege.

2. Military and Administrative Skills:

   • Versatility: Antander demonstrated versatility in both military and administrative roles. His capacity to lead and organize under pressure was instrumental in safeguarding Syracuse during one of its most challenging periods.
   • Strategic Importance: The defense of Syracuse was a strategic victory that prevented Carthage from capitalizing on Agathocles' absence and allowed Syracuse to remain a significant power in the region.

3. Historical Records:

   • Sources: Much of what is known about Antander comes from ancient historians such as Diodorus Siculus, who documented the events of the period. These records highlight Antander's contributions and the critical nature of his role.

Conclusion:

Antander of Syracuse is remembered primarily for his steadfast support of his brother Agathocles and his effective leadership during a critical period in Syracuse's history. His ability to manage the city's defenses and contribute to the broader strategic objectives of Agathocles' campaigns underscored his importance as both a military leader and an administrator. Antander's legacy is a testament to the crucial roles played by those who support and enable the ambitions of more prominent historical figures.

Bibliography

Orosius (2010). Fear, A.T., ed. Orosius: Seven Books of History Against the Pagans. Liverpool University Press - Translated Texts for Historians Series. 54. Translated by Fear, A.T. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. p. 167. ISBN 9781846312397. ISSN 0963-6234.

Tillyard, Henry Julius Wetenhall (1908). Agathocles. Cambridge University Press. pp. 8–9.

Westlake, Henry Dickinson (1969). "Timoleon and the Reconstruction of Syracuse". Essays on the Greek Historians and Greek History. Manchester University Press. p. 300. ISBN 9780719003660.

Tritle, Lawrence A. (2013). The Greek World in the Fourth Century: From the Fall of the Athenian Empire to the Successors of Alexander. Routledge. p. 157. ISBN 9781134524679.

Ray, Jr., Fred Eugene (2012). Greek and Macedonian Land Battles of the 4th Century B.C. McFarland. p. 197. ISBN 9780786469734.

Meister, K. (1984). "Agathocles". In Walbank, F.W.; Astin, A.E. The Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge University Press. p. 400. ISBN 9780521850735.

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica xix. 3, xx. 16, 72.

Gilles, John (1820). The history of ancient Greece, its colonies and conquests. 2 (6 ed.). T. Cadell and W. Davies. p. 221.

Lewis, Sian (2006). Ancient Tyranny. Edinburg: Edinburgh University Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780748626434.

Diodorus Siculus, Exc. xxi. 12, p. 492, ed. Wess.

Smith, William (1870). "Antander". In Smith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 1. p. 183.