A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀναξίλαος) or ANA'XILAS (Ἀναξίλας), tyrant of RHEGIUM, was the son of Cretines, and of Messenian origin. He was master of Rhegium in B. C. 494, when the Samians and other Ionian fugitives seized upon Zancle. Shortly afterwards he drove them out of this town, peopled it with fresh inhabitants, and changed its name into Messene. (Hdt. 6.22, 23; Thuc. 6.4; comp. Aristot. Pol. 5.10.4.) In 480 he obtained the assistance of the Carthaginians for his father-in-law, Terillus of Himera, against Theron. (Hdt. 7.165.) The daughter of Anaxilaus was married to Hiero. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. 1.112.) Anaxilaus died in 476, leaving Micythus guardian of his children, who obtained possession of their inheritance in 467, but was soon afterwards deprived of the sovereignty by the people. (Diod. 11.48, 66, 76.) The chronology of Anaxilaus has been discussed by Bentley (Diss. on Phalaris, p. 105, &c., ed. of 1777), who has shewn that the Anaxilaus of Pausanias (4.23.3) is the same as the one mentioned above.