Book 1
7
For misfortunes befell Messene and Rhegium, the cities The story of the Mamertines at Messene, and the Roman garrison at Rhegium, Dio. Cassius fr. built on either side of the Strait, peculiar in their nature and alike in their circumstances.
7
Not long before the period we are now describing some Campanian mercenaries of Agathocles, having for some time cast greedy eyes upon Messene, owing to its beauty and wealth, no sooner got an opportunity than they made a treacherous attempt upon that city. 1. Messene. They entered the town under guise of friendship, and, having once got possession of it, they drove out some of the citizens and put others to the sword. Agathocles died, B. C. 289. This done, they seized promiscuously the wives and children of the dispossessed citizens, each keeping those which fortune had assigned him at the very moment of the lawless deed. All other property and the land they took possession of by a subsequent division and retained.
