AFFAIRS IN SICILY.

HIERO II., tyrant of Syracuse, died in 216. During his long reign of
more than fifty years he had been the stanch friend and ally of Rome
in her struggles with Carthage. Hieronymus, the grandson and successor
of Hiero, thought fit to ally himself with Carthage. The young tyrant,
who was arrogant and cruel, was assassinated after reigning a few
months.

The Roman Governor of Sicily, MARCELLUS, troubled by the Carthaginian
faction in Syracuse, threatened the city with an attack unless the
leaders of this faction were expelled. In return, they endeavored to
arouse the citizens of the neighboring city of Leontini against Rome
and the Roman party in Syracuse. Marcellus at once attacked and
stormed Leontini. The Syracusans then closed their city gates against
him. A siege of two years (214-212) followed, famous for the various
devices adopted by the noted mathematician ARCHIMÉDES [Footnote:
Archimédes was a great investigator in the science of mathematics. He
discovered the ratio of a sphere to its circumscribed cylinder. One of
his famous sayings was, "Give me where to stand, and I will move the
world." He exerted his ingenuity in the invention of powerful machines
for the defence of Syracuse. Eight of his works on mathematics are in
existence. He was killed at the close of the siege by a Roman soldier,
who would have spared his life had he not been too intent on a
mathematical problem to comply with the summons to surrender. On his
tombstone, it is said, was engraved a cylinder enclosing a sphere.] to
defeat the movements of the Romans. The city was finally betrayed by a
Spanish officer, and given up to plunder. The art treasures in which