Agathocles facts for kids

The name Agathocles comes from ancient Greece. It means "good glory." This name was given to many important people throughout history. The most famous person with this name was Agathocles of Syracuse, a very powerful ruler from a city called Syracuse.

What Does Agathocles Mean?

The name Agathocles has a special meaning. It comes from two ancient Greek words:

• Ancient Greek: ἀγαθός, romanized: agathos, which means "good"
• Ancient Greek: κλέος, romanized: kleos, which means "glory"

So, when you put them together, Agathocles means "good glory" or "one who has good fame."

Agathocles of Syracuse: A Powerful Ruler

Agathocles of Syracuse was a very important figure in ancient history. He lived a long time ago, around 361 to 289 BC. He became the ruler, or "tyrant," of Syracuse. Syracuse was a powerful Greek city on the island of Sicily. Agathocles was known for being a strong military leader. He fought many wars and expanded his power. He even tried to conquer parts of North Africa. His rule was a significant time for Syracuse.

Other Notable People Named Agathocles

Many other people in history were also named Agathocles. Here are a few:

• Agathocles, a wise teacher known as a sophist. He taught a famous person named Damon of Athens.
• Agathocles (writers), a name shared by several ancient writers. One was a historian mentioned by famous Roman writers like Pliny and Cicero.
• Agathocles of Pella, who was the father of a king named Lysimachus. Lysimachus later became one of the generals of Alexander the Great.
• Agathocles (son of Lysimachus), the son of King Lysimachus. He was expected to take over his father's kingdom.
• Agathocles of Bactria, who was an Indo-Greek king. He ruled in a region called Bactria around 185 BC.

See also

• Agathocle, a play by Voltaire
• Agafokliya, a related Russian feminine first name

This page or section lists people with the given name Agathocles. If a page link brought you here, you might want to go back and fix it so that it goes directly to the correct page.