Dion and Dionysius

Dionysius the Elder died and was succeeded by his lazy, fickle son Dionysius the Younger. His brother-in-law Dion, a pupil of Plato in Athens, spoke so warmly of his teacher that Dionysius invited Plato to Syracuse. The old philosopher came but soon the tyrant grew bored with virtue. Courtiers mocked Plato and falsely accused Dion of plotting treason. Dionysius exiled Dion, forced his wife to marry another, and imprisoned Plato, then sold him into slavery. Plato's friends bought his freedom. On his way home, Plato stopped at Olympia where the people crowned him with an olive wreath—the highest Greek honor—for his wisdom and virtue.