ABSTRACT
The mixed fortunes of these Western Greeks1 during the fourth century receive little more than a glance in many history courses today. That is a pity, for however baffling the personalities and events may seem to us, there is no doubting the strong impression which they left upon contemporaries in mainland Greece. To make best sense, our 'century' must be stretched at either end, to run from the Syracusans' defeat of their Athenian besiegers in 413 to the death of King Agathocles in 289.
