“It is to
Peisistratus
that they are frequently spoken of as though they had
we owe the first written text of the whole of the been joint tyrants.
we owe the first written text of the whole of the been joint tyrants.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
c.
560 to have been a wise admixture of stringency as
is also shown by the fragments of the poetry regards the enforcement of the laws and the pre-
of Solon, in which, immediately after the capture vention of disorders, and leniency towards indi-
of the citadel by Peisistratus, he reproaches the viduals who offended him personally. (For anec-
Athenians with having themselves aggrandized their dotes illustrating this see Plutarch, Apophth.
tyrants (Plut. Sol. 30). The plural would indicate nelolot. p. 189, b. c. ; Polyaen. Strat. v. 14 ; Val.
that Peisistratus had sons at that time. Vater Max. v. 1. ext. 2. ) He enforced the law which
places the commencement of the tyranny of Peisis had been enacted by Solon, or, according to Theo-
tratus in the latter part of B. c. 561 ; assigns half a phrastus (ap. Plut. Solon. 31) by himself, against
year for the first period of government ; five years idleness, and compelled a large number of the
and a half for the first exile ; half a year for the poorer class to leave Athens, and devote themselves
second tyranny ; ten years and a quarter for the to agricultural pursuits. (Aelian. V. H. ix. 25; Dion
second exile ; and sixteen years for the third Chrysost vii. p. 258, ed. Reiske. xxv. p. 520. ) The
tyranny. The embassy of Croesus is the only stories of his compelling the people to wear the
point that can occasion any difficulty ; but the same Catonace (Hesychius and Suidas s. v. katwiákn ;
writer has shown that it is probable that the Aristoph. Lysist. 1150, &c. , Eccles. 724 ; Schol.
capture of Sardes is placed a few years too early by ad l. 755 ; Schol. ad Lysist. 619), probably have
Clinton. That a much shorter interval than Clinton reference to this. Those who had no resources of
supposes elapsed between the embassy of Croesus their own he is said to have supplied with cattle
to Greece and the capture of Sardes, is shown by and seed. His policy and taste combined also led
the circumstance that the presents sent by the him to employ the poorer Athenians in building.
Lacedaemonians to Croesus did not reach him before Athens was indebted to him for many stately and
he was taken prisoner. (Herod. i. 70; comp. Clin. useful buildings. Among these may be mentioned
ton, Fasti Hellen, ann. B. C. 560, 546, 527, and a temple to the Pythian Apollo (Suidas s. v.
appendix c. 2, p. 201, &c. )
Múblov; lesych. s. v. év Ivdiq xéoni. Vater has
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## p. 172 (#188) ############################################
172
PEISISTRATUS.
PEISISTRATUS.
made a great mistake in supposing that Thucydides | stratus with the Seven Sages (Diog. Laërt. i. 122).
(vi. 54)
states that this temple was built by Peisi. Either from his patronage of diviners, or from his
stratus, the son of Hippias : Thucydides only says being, like his son Hipparchus, a collector of
that the latter set up an altar in it), and a magni- oracles, he received the surname of Báris (Suid.
ficent temple to the Olympian Zeus (Arist. Pol. v. s. v. Báris; Schol. ad Aristoph. Pout, 1036 or
11), for which he employed the architects Antis- 1071).
tates, Callaeschrus, Antimachides, and Porinus “ On the whole, though we cannot approve of
(Vitruvius, Praef. vii. $ 15). This temple re- the steps by which he mounted to power, we must
mained unfinished for several centuries, and was at own that he made a princely use of it, and may
length completed by the emperor Hadrian (Paus. i. believe that, though under bis dynasty, Athens
18. 8 6 ; Strab. ix. p. 396). Besides these, the could never have risen to the greatness she after-
Lyceum, a garden with stately buildings a short wards attained, she was indebted to his rule for a
distance from the city, was the work of Peisistratus season of repose, during which she gained much of
(Suidas, s. v. Súkelov), as also the fountain of the that strength which she finally unfolded. " (Thirl-
Nine Springs ('Evveckpouvos, Thucyd. ii. 15; Paus. wall
, Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. p. 65. )
i. 14. & 1). The employment of the sons of Peisi- Peisistratus was thrice married (including his
stratus in superintending works of this kind, or com- connection with the daughter of Megacles). The
pleting them after their father's death, will probably name of his first wife, the mother of Hippias and
account for slight variations in the authorities as Hipparchus, we do not know. The statement of
to whether some of these were built by Peisistratus the Scholiast on Aristophanes (Equit. 447) that
himself or by his sons. According to most au- her name was Myrrhine, arises probably from a
thorities (the author of the letter in Diog. Laërt. i. confusion with the wife of Hippias. From Plu-
53 ; Suidas, 8. v. kal opákedoi #olowow dtéaclav; tarch (Cuto Major, c. 24) we leam that when
Diodor. Vatic. vii. ---x. 33, not. Dind. p. 31) Pei- Hippias and Hipparchus were grown up, Peisi-
sistratus, to defray these and other expenses, ex- stratus married Timonassa, a lady of Argolis, and
acted a tithe of the produce of the land, an impost had by her two sons, lophon and Thessalus. It
which, so employed, answered pretty nearly the is a conjecture of Vater's that Timonassa was
purpose of a poor's rate. He was also (Plut. Sol. connected with the royal house of Macedonia.
c. 31) the author of a measure, the idea of which Nothing more is known of lopkon ; he probably
he had derived from Solon, according to which died young. Hegesistratus, a bastard son of Pei-
those disabled in war were maintained at the public sistratus, has been already mentioned. Mention
expense.
is also made of a daughter of Peisistratus, who was
Peisistratus likewise bestowed considerable at- forcibly carried off by a youth named Thrasybulus,
tention upon the due performance of public religious or Thrasymedes, and was afterwards married to
rites, and the celebration of festivals and processions him with the consent of her father, when, having
(Epist. ap. Diog. Laërt. i. 53), an example which was put to sea, and fallen into the hands of Hippias,
followed by his sons, who are even said to have in- he was brought back. (Plut. A pophth Deglot.
vented Jalías kai kuuous (Athen. xii. 44, p. 532). vol. ii. p. 189. ) Thucydides (i. 20, vi. 54, &c. )
The institution of the greater Panathenaea is ex- expressly states, on what he declares to be good
pressly ascribed to Peisistratus by the scholiast on authority, that Hippias was the eldest son of
Aristeides (p. 323, ed. Dind. ); and before the time Peisistratus (a statement which he defends by
of Peisistratus we do not hear of the distinction several arguments, not all very decisive, though
between the greater and the lesser Panathe- they at least confirm it), contrary to the general
naea (Dictionary of Antiquities, art. Panathe opinion in his day, which assigned the priority of
naea). He at least made considerable changes in birth to Hipparchus. The authority of Thucy-
the festival, and in particular introduced the con- dides is fully supported by Herodotus (v. 55)
tests of rhapsodists. " Peisistratus in various ways and Cleidemus (in Athen. xiii. p. 609, d. ). Pei-
encouraged literature. It was apparently under sistratus died at an advanced age (Thuc vi. 54)
his auspices that Thespis introduced at Athens in B. C. 527 (Clinton, Fasti Hellen. vol. ii. App.
his rude form of tragedy (B. C. 535, Clinton, F. H. c. 2), and was succeeded in the tyranny by his
sub anno), and that dramatic contests were made son Hippias (Herod. l. c. ; Cleid. L. c. ), though the
a regular part of the Attic Dionysia (Bode, Gesch. brothers appear to have administered the affairs of
der Hellen. Dichtkunst, vol. iii. part i. p. 53 ; Dict. the state with so little outward distinction, that
of Ant. art. Tragoedia).
“It is to Peisistratus that they are frequently spoken of as though they had
we owe the first written text of the whole of the been joint tyrants. (Thucyd. 1. c. ; Schol. ad Aris-
poems of Homer, which, without his care, would toph. Vesp. 502, & de 'Istias et vpávvndev, ovx ó
most likely now exist only in a few disjointed | “Ιππαρχος: κοινώς δε πάντες οι Πεισιστρατίδαι
fragments. ” (Respecting the services of Peisi- | Túpavvoénézouto). They continued the gorern-
stratus in relation to the text of Homer, and the ment on the same principles as their father. Thu-
poets who assisted him in the work, see the article cydides (vi. 54) speaks in terms of high commend-
HOMERUS, Vol. II. p. 507, and the authorities ation of the virtue and intelligence with which
there referred to). Peisistratus is also said to have their rule was exercised till the death of Hip-
been the first person in Greece who collected a parchus ; and the author of the dialogue Hippar
library, to which he generously allowed the public chus (p. 229, b. ) speaks of their government as a
access (A. Gellius, N. A. vi. 17; Athen. i. p. 3, kind of golden age. There seems no reason to
a. ). The story that this collection of books was question the general truth of this description,
carried away by Xerxes, and subsequently re- though particular exceptions may be adduced, such
stored by Seleucus (A. Gellius, l. c. ), hardly rests as the assassination of Cimon, the father of Mil-
on sufficient authority to deserve much notice. It tiades (Herod. vi. 39, 103. See CIMON). They
was probably from his regard to religion and lite exacted only one-twentieth of the produce of the
rature that many were disposed to class Peisi- | land to defray their expenses in finishing the build-
## p. 173 (#189) ############################################
PEISISTRATI'S.
173
ërt : 12
Bács (
aprova del
<57
u pochod
Thes). The
prin
teneri di
3
i fino
A Pes
uus
Cirkely
of Po
Vestig
1
PEISISTRATUS.
ings left incomplete by Peisistratus, or erecting | were built so as to interfere with the public con-
lew ones (though according to Suidas, s. v. To venience put up for sale ; and, under pretence of
'Innápxou teixlov, Hipparchus exacted a good issuing a new coinage, getting the old coinage
deal of money from the Athenians for building a brought in at a low valuation, and then issuing it
wall round the Academy) for maintaining their again without alteration. Feeling himself unsafe
mercenary troops, who bore the appellation Aukó- at Athens he began to look abroad for some place
Trodes (Suid. s. v. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. Lys. 664), of retreat for himself and his family, in case he
and providing for the religious solemnities. Hip- should be expelled from Athens. With this view
parchus inherited his father's literary tastes. It he gave his daughter Archedice (ARCHEDICE) in
was he who erected on the roads leading to the marriage to Aenntides, the son of Hippoclus,
country towns of Attica busts of Hermes, in- tyrant of Lampsacus, an alliance which he would
scribed on one side with the distances from the doubtless have thought beneath him, had he not
city (which distances were measured from the observed that Hippoclus was in great favour with
altar of the twelve gods set up in the agora by Darcius.
Peisistratus, the son of Hippias, Thuc. vi. 54 ; The expulsion of the Peisistratidae was finally
Herod. ii. 7), and on the other side with some brought about by the Alcmaeonidae and Lacedae-
moral maxim in verse. (Pseudo-Plat. Hipparch. monians. The former, since their last quarrel with
p. 228, d. ) He also arranged the manner in Peisistratus, had shown unceasing hostility and
which the rhapsodes were to recite the Homeric hatred towards him and his successors, which the
poems at the Panathenaic festival (ibid. p. 228, b). latter met by tokens of similar feelings, insomuch
Several distinguished contemporary poets appear to that they not only demolished their houses, but
bave lived at the court of the Peisistratidae under dug up their tombs. (Isocrates, de Big. 26, p. 351,
the patronage of Hipparchus, as, for example, Simo- ed. Steph. ) The Alcmaeonidae were joined by
nides of Ceos (Pseudo-Plat. Hipparch. p. 228, c. ; other Athenian exiles, and had fortified a strong-
Aelian. V. H. viii. 2), Anacreon of Teos (ibid. ), hold on the frontier of Attica, named Leipsydrion,
Lasus of Hermione, and Onomacritus (Herod. vii. on the heights of Parnes, above Paeonia (Aristot.
6). The latter was employed in making a col- ap. Schol. ad Aristoph. Lysist. 665 ; Suidas, s. v.
lection of oracles of Musaeus, and was banished on | έπι Λειψυδρία μάχη and Λυκόποδες. Thirlwall,
being detected in an attempt to interpolate them. vol. ii. p. 70, note, remarks that the description
(ONOMACRITUS). This collection of oracles after- seems to relate to some family seat of the Paeoni-
wards fell into the bands of Cleomenes. (Herod. v. dae, who were kinsmen of the Alcmaeonidae).
90. ) The superstitious reverence for oracles and They were, however, repulsed with loss in an at.
divination which appears to have led Hipparchus tempt to force their way back to Athens, and
to banish Onomacritus again manifests itself in the compelled to evacuate the fortress (Suidas, l. c. ).
story of the vision (Herod. v. 56). That he was still they none the more remitted their machi-
also addicted to erotic gratification appears from nations against the tyrants (Herod. v. 62). By
the story of Harmodius, and the authority of well-timed liberality they had secured the favour
Heracleides Ponticus, who terms him épwtikos. of the Amphictyons and that of the Delphic oracle
Of the particular events of the first fourteen years (ALCM AEONIDAE), which they still further secured
of the government of Hippias we know scarcely by bribing the Pythia (Herod. v. 63). The re-
anything. Thucydides (vi. 54) speaks of their peated injunctions of the oracle to the Lacedaemo-
carrying on wars, but what these were we do not nians to free Athens roused them at length to send
know. It was during the tyranny of Hippias that an army under Anchimolius for the purpose of
Miltiades was sent to take possession of the Cher-driving out the Peisistratidae (though hitherto the
sonesus. (MILTIADES ) But a great change in family had been closely connected with them by
the character of his government ensued upon the the ties of hospitality). Anchimolius landed at
murder of Hipparchus (B. c. 514), for the circum- Phalerus, but was defeated and slain by Hippias,
stances connected with which the reader is referred who was assisted by a body of Thessalian cavalry
to the articles HARMODIUS and LEARNA. Hip | under Cineas. The Lacedaemonians now sent a
pias displayed on the occasion great presence of larger force under Cleomenes. The Thessalian
mind. As soon as he heard of the assassination cavalry were defeated on the borders, apparently at
of his brother, instead of rushing to the scene of it, a place called Pallenion (Andoc. de Myst. 106),
he went quietly up to the armed citizens who and returned home; and Hippias, unable to with-
were forming the procession, and, as though he in- stand his enemies in the field, retreated into the
tended to harangue them, directed them to go Acropolis. This being well supplied with stores,
without their arms to a spot which he pointed out. the Lacedaemonians, who were unprepared for a
He then ordered his guards to seize their arms, and siege, would, in the judgment of Herodotus, have
to apprehend those whom he suspected of being been quite unable to force Hippias to surrender,
concerned in the plot, and all who had daggers had it not been that his children fell into their
concealed about them. (What Polyaenus, i. 21. hands, while being conveyed out of Attica for
$ 2, relates of Peisistratus has probably arisen out greater security, and were only restored on con-
of a confusion with these events. ) Under the dition that Hippias and his connections should
influence of revengeful feelings and fears for his evacuate Attica within five days. They retired to
own safety Hippias now became a morose and Sigeum, B. c. 510. (Herod. v. 64, &c. ; Paus. iii.
suspicious tyrant. His rule became harsh, arbi- 4. & 2, 7. $ 8; Aristoph. Lysist. 1150, &c. ). The
trary, and exacting. (Thucyd. vi. 57—60. ) He family of the tyrants was condemned to perpetual
put to death great numbers of the citizens, and banishment, a sentence which was maintained even
raised money by extraordinary imposts. It is in after times, when decrees of amnesty were
probably to this period that we should refer the passed (Andoc. de Myst. $ 78). A monument re-
measures described by Aristotle (Oeconom. i. p. cording the offences of the tyrants was set up in
1347, ed. Bekker), such as having houses that the Acropolis. (Thuc. vi. 55. )
769 ST.
4, &e/
de by
ritr al'
Tia
pe
yo
**
## p. 174 (#190) ############################################
174
PEISISTRATUS.
PEITHAGORAS.
The Spartans before long discovered the trick | Peloponnesinn war, who became the object of the
that had been played upon them by the Alc- hatred of the oligarchical party, and was murdered
maeonidae and the Delphic oracle ; and their in an assembly of the senate. To avoid detection
jealousy of the Athenians being stimulated by the his body was cut to pieces, and the parts of it
oracles, collected by Hipparchus, which Cleomenes carried away by the senators under their robes.
found in the Acropolis, in which manifold evils Tiesimachus, the son of Peisistratus, who was privy
were porter. ded to them from the Athenians, they to the conspiracy, quieted the populace, who were
began to repent of having driven out their old incensed at the disappearance of their king, by a
friends the Peisistratidae, and accordingly sent for story of his having appeared to him in a snper-
Ilippias, who came to Sparta Having summoned human form after he had left the earth. (Plut.
a congress of their allies, they laid the inatter Parall. vol. ii. p. 313, b. )
before them, and proposed that they should unite 3. A Boeotian statesman, who took the side of
their forces and restore Hippias. But the vehe- the Romans in the war between them and Philip,
ment remonstrances of the Corinthian deputy king of Macedonia. In conjunction with Zeur-
Sosicles induced the allies to reject the proposal. ippus, he was instrumental in inducing the Breo-
Hippias, declining the offers that were made him tians to attach themselves to Flamininus. After
of the town of Anthemus by Amyntas, and of the battle of Cynoscephalae, when the faction of
Jolcos by the Thessalians, returned to Sigeum Brachyllas gained the upper hand, Peisistratus and
(Herod. v. 90–94), and addressed himself to Zeuxippus had Brachyllas assassinated, a crime
Artaphernes. (Respecting the embassy of the for which Peisistratus was condemned to death
Athenians to counteract his intrigues, see ARTA- (Liv. xxxii. 27, 28 ; Polybius, Legat. viii).
PHERNES. ) He appears then with his family to 4. A native of Cyzicus. In the war between
have gone to the court of Dareius (Herod. I. c. ): the Romans and Mithridates, when Cyzicus was
while here they urged Dareius to inflict vengeance besieged by Mithridates (B. C. 74), Peisistratus was
on Athens and Eretria, and Hippias himself ac- general of the Cyzicenes, and successfully defended
companied the expedition sent under Datis and the city againsi Mithridates (Appian, de Bello
Artaphernes. From Eretria he led them to the Mith.
is also shown by the fragments of the poetry regards the enforcement of the laws and the pre-
of Solon, in which, immediately after the capture vention of disorders, and leniency towards indi-
of the citadel by Peisistratus, he reproaches the viduals who offended him personally. (For anec-
Athenians with having themselves aggrandized their dotes illustrating this see Plutarch, Apophth.
tyrants (Plut. Sol. 30). The plural would indicate nelolot. p. 189, b. c. ; Polyaen. Strat. v. 14 ; Val.
that Peisistratus had sons at that time. Vater Max. v. 1. ext. 2. ) He enforced the law which
places the commencement of the tyranny of Peisis had been enacted by Solon, or, according to Theo-
tratus in the latter part of B. c. 561 ; assigns half a phrastus (ap. Plut. Solon. 31) by himself, against
year for the first period of government ; five years idleness, and compelled a large number of the
and a half for the first exile ; half a year for the poorer class to leave Athens, and devote themselves
second tyranny ; ten years and a quarter for the to agricultural pursuits. (Aelian. V. H. ix. 25; Dion
second exile ; and sixteen years for the third Chrysost vii. p. 258, ed. Reiske. xxv. p. 520. ) The
tyranny. The embassy of Croesus is the only stories of his compelling the people to wear the
point that can occasion any difficulty ; but the same Catonace (Hesychius and Suidas s. v. katwiákn ;
writer has shown that it is probable that the Aristoph. Lysist. 1150, &c. , Eccles. 724 ; Schol.
capture of Sardes is placed a few years too early by ad l. 755 ; Schol. ad Lysist. 619), probably have
Clinton. That a much shorter interval than Clinton reference to this. Those who had no resources of
supposes elapsed between the embassy of Croesus their own he is said to have supplied with cattle
to Greece and the capture of Sardes, is shown by and seed. His policy and taste combined also led
the circumstance that the presents sent by the him to employ the poorer Athenians in building.
Lacedaemonians to Croesus did not reach him before Athens was indebted to him for many stately and
he was taken prisoner. (Herod. i. 70; comp. Clin. useful buildings. Among these may be mentioned
ton, Fasti Hellen, ann. B. C. 560, 546, 527, and a temple to the Pythian Apollo (Suidas s. v.
appendix c. 2, p. 201, &c. )
Múblov; lesych. s. v. év Ivdiq xéoni. Vater has
={r
at No
CẢed:
จาะนี่
as
## p. 172 (#188) ############################################
172
PEISISTRATUS.
PEISISTRATUS.
made a great mistake in supposing that Thucydides | stratus with the Seven Sages (Diog. Laërt. i. 122).
(vi. 54)
states that this temple was built by Peisi. Either from his patronage of diviners, or from his
stratus, the son of Hippias : Thucydides only says being, like his son Hipparchus, a collector of
that the latter set up an altar in it), and a magni- oracles, he received the surname of Báris (Suid.
ficent temple to the Olympian Zeus (Arist. Pol. v. s. v. Báris; Schol. ad Aristoph. Pout, 1036 or
11), for which he employed the architects Antis- 1071).
tates, Callaeschrus, Antimachides, and Porinus “ On the whole, though we cannot approve of
(Vitruvius, Praef. vii. $ 15). This temple re- the steps by which he mounted to power, we must
mained unfinished for several centuries, and was at own that he made a princely use of it, and may
length completed by the emperor Hadrian (Paus. i. believe that, though under bis dynasty, Athens
18. 8 6 ; Strab. ix. p. 396). Besides these, the could never have risen to the greatness she after-
Lyceum, a garden with stately buildings a short wards attained, she was indebted to his rule for a
distance from the city, was the work of Peisistratus season of repose, during which she gained much of
(Suidas, s. v. Súkelov), as also the fountain of the that strength which she finally unfolded. " (Thirl-
Nine Springs ('Evveckpouvos, Thucyd. ii. 15; Paus. wall
, Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. p. 65. )
i. 14. & 1). The employment of the sons of Peisi- Peisistratus was thrice married (including his
stratus in superintending works of this kind, or com- connection with the daughter of Megacles). The
pleting them after their father's death, will probably name of his first wife, the mother of Hippias and
account for slight variations in the authorities as Hipparchus, we do not know. The statement of
to whether some of these were built by Peisistratus the Scholiast on Aristophanes (Equit. 447) that
himself or by his sons. According to most au- her name was Myrrhine, arises probably from a
thorities (the author of the letter in Diog. Laërt. i. confusion with the wife of Hippias. From Plu-
53 ; Suidas, 8. v. kal opákedoi #olowow dtéaclav; tarch (Cuto Major, c. 24) we leam that when
Diodor. Vatic. vii. ---x. 33, not. Dind. p. 31) Pei- Hippias and Hipparchus were grown up, Peisi-
sistratus, to defray these and other expenses, ex- stratus married Timonassa, a lady of Argolis, and
acted a tithe of the produce of the land, an impost had by her two sons, lophon and Thessalus. It
which, so employed, answered pretty nearly the is a conjecture of Vater's that Timonassa was
purpose of a poor's rate. He was also (Plut. Sol. connected with the royal house of Macedonia.
c. 31) the author of a measure, the idea of which Nothing more is known of lopkon ; he probably
he had derived from Solon, according to which died young. Hegesistratus, a bastard son of Pei-
those disabled in war were maintained at the public sistratus, has been already mentioned. Mention
expense.
is also made of a daughter of Peisistratus, who was
Peisistratus likewise bestowed considerable at- forcibly carried off by a youth named Thrasybulus,
tention upon the due performance of public religious or Thrasymedes, and was afterwards married to
rites, and the celebration of festivals and processions him with the consent of her father, when, having
(Epist. ap. Diog. Laërt. i. 53), an example which was put to sea, and fallen into the hands of Hippias,
followed by his sons, who are even said to have in- he was brought back. (Plut. A pophth Deglot.
vented Jalías kai kuuous (Athen. xii. 44, p. 532). vol. ii. p. 189. ) Thucydides (i. 20, vi. 54, &c. )
The institution of the greater Panathenaea is ex- expressly states, on what he declares to be good
pressly ascribed to Peisistratus by the scholiast on authority, that Hippias was the eldest son of
Aristeides (p. 323, ed. Dind. ); and before the time Peisistratus (a statement which he defends by
of Peisistratus we do not hear of the distinction several arguments, not all very decisive, though
between the greater and the lesser Panathe- they at least confirm it), contrary to the general
naea (Dictionary of Antiquities, art. Panathe opinion in his day, which assigned the priority of
naea). He at least made considerable changes in birth to Hipparchus. The authority of Thucy-
the festival, and in particular introduced the con- dides is fully supported by Herodotus (v. 55)
tests of rhapsodists. " Peisistratus in various ways and Cleidemus (in Athen. xiii. p. 609, d. ). Pei-
encouraged literature. It was apparently under sistratus died at an advanced age (Thuc vi. 54)
his auspices that Thespis introduced at Athens in B. C. 527 (Clinton, Fasti Hellen. vol. ii. App.
his rude form of tragedy (B. C. 535, Clinton, F. H. c. 2), and was succeeded in the tyranny by his
sub anno), and that dramatic contests were made son Hippias (Herod. l. c. ; Cleid. L. c. ), though the
a regular part of the Attic Dionysia (Bode, Gesch. brothers appear to have administered the affairs of
der Hellen. Dichtkunst, vol. iii. part i. p. 53 ; Dict. the state with so little outward distinction, that
of Ant. art. Tragoedia).
“It is to Peisistratus that they are frequently spoken of as though they had
we owe the first written text of the whole of the been joint tyrants. (Thucyd. 1. c. ; Schol. ad Aris-
poems of Homer, which, without his care, would toph. Vesp. 502, & de 'Istias et vpávvndev, ovx ó
most likely now exist only in a few disjointed | “Ιππαρχος: κοινώς δε πάντες οι Πεισιστρατίδαι
fragments. ” (Respecting the services of Peisi- | Túpavvoénézouto). They continued the gorern-
stratus in relation to the text of Homer, and the ment on the same principles as their father. Thu-
poets who assisted him in the work, see the article cydides (vi. 54) speaks in terms of high commend-
HOMERUS, Vol. II. p. 507, and the authorities ation of the virtue and intelligence with which
there referred to). Peisistratus is also said to have their rule was exercised till the death of Hip-
been the first person in Greece who collected a parchus ; and the author of the dialogue Hippar
library, to which he generously allowed the public chus (p. 229, b. ) speaks of their government as a
access (A. Gellius, N. A. vi. 17; Athen. i. p. 3, kind of golden age. There seems no reason to
a. ). The story that this collection of books was question the general truth of this description,
carried away by Xerxes, and subsequently re- though particular exceptions may be adduced, such
stored by Seleucus (A. Gellius, l. c. ), hardly rests as the assassination of Cimon, the father of Mil-
on sufficient authority to deserve much notice. It tiades (Herod. vi. 39, 103. See CIMON). They
was probably from his regard to religion and lite exacted only one-twentieth of the produce of the
rature that many were disposed to class Peisi- | land to defray their expenses in finishing the build-
## p. 173 (#189) ############################################
PEISISTRATI'S.
173
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PEISISTRATUS.
ings left incomplete by Peisistratus, or erecting | were built so as to interfere with the public con-
lew ones (though according to Suidas, s. v. To venience put up for sale ; and, under pretence of
'Innápxou teixlov, Hipparchus exacted a good issuing a new coinage, getting the old coinage
deal of money from the Athenians for building a brought in at a low valuation, and then issuing it
wall round the Academy) for maintaining their again without alteration. Feeling himself unsafe
mercenary troops, who bore the appellation Aukó- at Athens he began to look abroad for some place
Trodes (Suid. s. v. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. Lys. 664), of retreat for himself and his family, in case he
and providing for the religious solemnities. Hip- should be expelled from Athens. With this view
parchus inherited his father's literary tastes. It he gave his daughter Archedice (ARCHEDICE) in
was he who erected on the roads leading to the marriage to Aenntides, the son of Hippoclus,
country towns of Attica busts of Hermes, in- tyrant of Lampsacus, an alliance which he would
scribed on one side with the distances from the doubtless have thought beneath him, had he not
city (which distances were measured from the observed that Hippoclus was in great favour with
altar of the twelve gods set up in the agora by Darcius.
Peisistratus, the son of Hippias, Thuc. vi. 54 ; The expulsion of the Peisistratidae was finally
Herod. ii. 7), and on the other side with some brought about by the Alcmaeonidae and Lacedae-
moral maxim in verse. (Pseudo-Plat. Hipparch. monians. The former, since their last quarrel with
p. 228, d. ) He also arranged the manner in Peisistratus, had shown unceasing hostility and
which the rhapsodes were to recite the Homeric hatred towards him and his successors, which the
poems at the Panathenaic festival (ibid. p. 228, b). latter met by tokens of similar feelings, insomuch
Several distinguished contemporary poets appear to that they not only demolished their houses, but
bave lived at the court of the Peisistratidae under dug up their tombs. (Isocrates, de Big. 26, p. 351,
the patronage of Hipparchus, as, for example, Simo- ed. Steph. ) The Alcmaeonidae were joined by
nides of Ceos (Pseudo-Plat. Hipparch. p. 228, c. ; other Athenian exiles, and had fortified a strong-
Aelian. V. H. viii. 2), Anacreon of Teos (ibid. ), hold on the frontier of Attica, named Leipsydrion,
Lasus of Hermione, and Onomacritus (Herod. vii. on the heights of Parnes, above Paeonia (Aristot.
6). The latter was employed in making a col- ap. Schol. ad Aristoph. Lysist. 665 ; Suidas, s. v.
lection of oracles of Musaeus, and was banished on | έπι Λειψυδρία μάχη and Λυκόποδες. Thirlwall,
being detected in an attempt to interpolate them. vol. ii. p. 70, note, remarks that the description
(ONOMACRITUS). This collection of oracles after- seems to relate to some family seat of the Paeoni-
wards fell into the bands of Cleomenes. (Herod. v. dae, who were kinsmen of the Alcmaeonidae).
90. ) The superstitious reverence for oracles and They were, however, repulsed with loss in an at.
divination which appears to have led Hipparchus tempt to force their way back to Athens, and
to banish Onomacritus again manifests itself in the compelled to evacuate the fortress (Suidas, l. c. ).
story of the vision (Herod. v. 56). That he was still they none the more remitted their machi-
also addicted to erotic gratification appears from nations against the tyrants (Herod. v. 62). By
the story of Harmodius, and the authority of well-timed liberality they had secured the favour
Heracleides Ponticus, who terms him épwtikos. of the Amphictyons and that of the Delphic oracle
Of the particular events of the first fourteen years (ALCM AEONIDAE), which they still further secured
of the government of Hippias we know scarcely by bribing the Pythia (Herod. v. 63). The re-
anything. Thucydides (vi. 54) speaks of their peated injunctions of the oracle to the Lacedaemo-
carrying on wars, but what these were we do not nians to free Athens roused them at length to send
know. It was during the tyranny of Hippias that an army under Anchimolius for the purpose of
Miltiades was sent to take possession of the Cher-driving out the Peisistratidae (though hitherto the
sonesus. (MILTIADES ) But a great change in family had been closely connected with them by
the character of his government ensued upon the the ties of hospitality). Anchimolius landed at
murder of Hipparchus (B. c. 514), for the circum- Phalerus, but was defeated and slain by Hippias,
stances connected with which the reader is referred who was assisted by a body of Thessalian cavalry
to the articles HARMODIUS and LEARNA. Hip | under Cineas. The Lacedaemonians now sent a
pias displayed on the occasion great presence of larger force under Cleomenes. The Thessalian
mind. As soon as he heard of the assassination cavalry were defeated on the borders, apparently at
of his brother, instead of rushing to the scene of it, a place called Pallenion (Andoc. de Myst. 106),
he went quietly up to the armed citizens who and returned home; and Hippias, unable to with-
were forming the procession, and, as though he in- stand his enemies in the field, retreated into the
tended to harangue them, directed them to go Acropolis. This being well supplied with stores,
without their arms to a spot which he pointed out. the Lacedaemonians, who were unprepared for a
He then ordered his guards to seize their arms, and siege, would, in the judgment of Herodotus, have
to apprehend those whom he suspected of being been quite unable to force Hippias to surrender,
concerned in the plot, and all who had daggers had it not been that his children fell into their
concealed about them. (What Polyaenus, i. 21. hands, while being conveyed out of Attica for
$ 2, relates of Peisistratus has probably arisen out greater security, and were only restored on con-
of a confusion with these events. ) Under the dition that Hippias and his connections should
influence of revengeful feelings and fears for his evacuate Attica within five days. They retired to
own safety Hippias now became a morose and Sigeum, B. c. 510. (Herod. v. 64, &c. ; Paus. iii.
suspicious tyrant. His rule became harsh, arbi- 4. & 2, 7. $ 8; Aristoph. Lysist. 1150, &c. ). The
trary, and exacting. (Thucyd. vi. 57—60. ) He family of the tyrants was condemned to perpetual
put to death great numbers of the citizens, and banishment, a sentence which was maintained even
raised money by extraordinary imposts. It is in after times, when decrees of amnesty were
probably to this period that we should refer the passed (Andoc. de Myst. $ 78). A monument re-
measures described by Aristotle (Oeconom. i. p. cording the offences of the tyrants was set up in
1347, ed. Bekker), such as having houses that the Acropolis. (Thuc. vi. 55. )
769 ST.
4, &e/
de by
ritr al'
Tia
pe
yo
**
## p. 174 (#190) ############################################
174
PEISISTRATUS.
PEITHAGORAS.
The Spartans before long discovered the trick | Peloponnesinn war, who became the object of the
that had been played upon them by the Alc- hatred of the oligarchical party, and was murdered
maeonidae and the Delphic oracle ; and their in an assembly of the senate. To avoid detection
jealousy of the Athenians being stimulated by the his body was cut to pieces, and the parts of it
oracles, collected by Hipparchus, which Cleomenes carried away by the senators under their robes.
found in the Acropolis, in which manifold evils Tiesimachus, the son of Peisistratus, who was privy
were porter. ded to them from the Athenians, they to the conspiracy, quieted the populace, who were
began to repent of having driven out their old incensed at the disappearance of their king, by a
friends the Peisistratidae, and accordingly sent for story of his having appeared to him in a snper-
Ilippias, who came to Sparta Having summoned human form after he had left the earth. (Plut.
a congress of their allies, they laid the inatter Parall. vol. ii. p. 313, b. )
before them, and proposed that they should unite 3. A Boeotian statesman, who took the side of
their forces and restore Hippias. But the vehe- the Romans in the war between them and Philip,
ment remonstrances of the Corinthian deputy king of Macedonia. In conjunction with Zeur-
Sosicles induced the allies to reject the proposal. ippus, he was instrumental in inducing the Breo-
Hippias, declining the offers that were made him tians to attach themselves to Flamininus. After
of the town of Anthemus by Amyntas, and of the battle of Cynoscephalae, when the faction of
Jolcos by the Thessalians, returned to Sigeum Brachyllas gained the upper hand, Peisistratus and
(Herod. v. 90–94), and addressed himself to Zeuxippus had Brachyllas assassinated, a crime
Artaphernes. (Respecting the embassy of the for which Peisistratus was condemned to death
Athenians to counteract his intrigues, see ARTA- (Liv. xxxii. 27, 28 ; Polybius, Legat. viii).
PHERNES. ) He appears then with his family to 4. A native of Cyzicus. In the war between
have gone to the court of Dareius (Herod. I. c. ): the Romans and Mithridates, when Cyzicus was
while here they urged Dareius to inflict vengeance besieged by Mithridates (B. C. 74), Peisistratus was
on Athens and Eretria, and Hippias himself ac- general of the Cyzicenes, and successfully defended
companied the expedition sent under Datis and the city againsi Mithridates (Appian, de Bello
Artaphernes. From Eretria he led them to the Mith.
