Antiochus of Syracuse (Ἀντίοχος ὁ Συρακούσιος) Life Antiochus of Syracuse was a Greek historian of the fifth century BCE. A citizen of Syracuse, his work places him as a contemporary of Thucydides, active during the later part of the century. His writings focus on the Greek colonization of Italy and Sicily and the ensuing conflicts with indigenous peoples and between Greek cities [1]. No further biographical details are recorded.

Works His sole known work is On Italy (Περὶ Ἰταλίας), a history of the Greek colonization of Italy and Sicily which survives only in fragments preserved by later authors [1][2].

Significance Antiochus is a significant, though fragmentary, source for early Greek history in the western Mediterranean. His On Italy was used as an authoritative source by later historians like Strabo and Dionysius of Halicarnassus [1][2]. The fragments provide valuable evidence for the Greek perspective on foundations of cities and interactions with Italic peoples [1].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antiochus-of-Syracuse 2. Perseus Digital Library, Entry in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dantiochus-bio-4