3. A Syracusan, originally a man of ignoble birth, and a brazier by trade (Liv. 26.30), was one of the conspirators who assassinated Hieronymus at Leontini, B. C. 215. [HIERONYMUS]. After that event, Sosis and Theodotus (another of the conspirators) hastened immediately to Syracuse, where they roused the people to arms, and made
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themselves masters of the city with the exception of the citadel, in which Andranodorus, the governor left there by Hieronymus, had fortified himself. The next day an assembly of the people was held, in which Sosis and Theodotus were among those chosen as generals or praetors, and Andranodorus was soon after induced to surrender the citadel. (Liv. 24.21-23). Shortly after, he was appointed, together with Deinomenes, to command the army sent to the relief of Leontini, but arriving too late to save that city, which had already fallen into the power of Marcellus, they turned their arms against the traitors Hippocrates and Epicydes, who had taken refuge at Herbessus. Their object was, however, again frustrated by the mutiny of their mercenary troops, who declared in favour of the two Carthaginians, and the latter, following up their advantage, quickly made themselves masters of Syracuse itself. (Id. ib. 30-32.) Sosis on this occasion escaped the fate of most of his colleagues, and fled for refuge to the camp of Marcellus, with whom he continued throughout the longprotracted siege of his native city. In the course of these operations he rendered important assistance to the Roman general by carrying on negotiations with the Syracusan officers, and by leading the party which effected the surprise of the Epipolae. For these services he was rewarded by a conspicuous place in the ovation of Marcellus, B. C. 211, besides obtaining the privileges of a Roman citizen and an extensive grant of lands in the Syracusan territory. (Id. 25.25, 26.21, 30.). [E.H.B]