619),
probably
have
Clinton.
Clinton.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
i.
21.
$ 3.
) again made common cause with Lycurgus, and
A similar stratagem had been practised by Thea- Peisistratus was a second time compelled to evacuate
genes of Megara, and was afterwards imitated by Athens (Herod. i. 6)). This time he left Attica,
Dionysius (Diod. xiii. 97). Megacles and the and retired to Eretria in Euboea. (The very ex-
Alcmaeonidae took to ilight. Solon, after another traordinary statement in Eusebius, Chron. Olymp.
ineffectual attempt to rouse the citizens against the 54. 3, and Hieronymus, that Peisistratus went
usurper, placed his arms in the street before his into Italy, is doubtless a blunder, Vater con-
door, saying that he had done his utmost to defend jectures that the name Italy has been substituted
his country and its laws. Peisistratus, having by mistake for that of some place in Attica, perhaps
secured to himself the substance of power, made no Icarin, and that the statement refers to the first
further change in the constitution, or in the laws, exile of Peisistratus. ). His property was again
which he administered ably and well.
offered for sale (ÖKWs & Ticon, Herod. vi. 121), and
The first usurpation of Peisistratus Insted but a again Callias, who had been one of his most active
short time (Herod. i. 60. uerd où motor xpóvor opponents, was the only purchaser.
- εξελαύνουσί μιν). Before his power was firmly On reaching Eretria Peisistratus deliberated
rooted, the factions headed by Megacles and Ly- with his sons as to the course he should pursue.
curgus combined, and Peisistratus was compelled The advice of Hippias, that he should make a
to evacuate Athens. As, on his second expulsion, fresh attempt to regain his power, was adopted.
are distinctly told (Herod. i. 61) that he contributions were solicited from the cities which
quitted Attica, the presumption is, that on the first were in his interest. Several furnished him with
occasion he did not. His property was confiscated large sums. Thebes especially surpassed all the
and sold by auction, when the only man who ven- rest in the amount of noney which she placed at
tured to purchase it was Callias, the son of Hip- his disposal. With the funds thus raised be pro-
ponicus (Herod. vi. 121). How Peisistratus em- cured mercenaries from Argos. Ten years elapsed
ployed himself during his banishment, which lasted before his preparations were complete. At last,
about six years, we do not know. Meantime, the however, with the forces which he had raised, a
factions of Megacles and Lycurgus, having accom- Naxian named Lygdamis having also of his own
plished their immediate object, revived their old accord brought him both money and a body of
feuds, and Megacles, finding himself the weaker of troops, he crossed into Attica, and landed at Ma-
the two, made overtures to Peisistratus, offering to rathon. Here his friends and partisans flocked to
reinstaté him in the tyranny, if he would connect his standard. His antagonists, who had viewed
himself with him by receiving his daughter Coe- his proceedings with great indifference, when they
syra (Suidas s. v. éYKEROLO UPWHévnu) in marriage. heard that he was advancing upon Athens bastily
The proposal was accepted by Peisistratus, and the marched out to meet him. . The two armies en-
following stratagem was devised for accomplishing camped not far from each other, near the temple of
(as Herodotus supposes) his restoration. In what Athene at Pallene, and Peisistratus, seizing the
was afterwards the deme Paeonia, they found a opportunity with which the remissness of his anta-
damsel named Phya, of remarkable stature and gonists furnished him, and encouraged by the sooth-
beauty (according to Athenaeus xiii. p. 609, a gar- sayer Amphilytus of Acharnae, fell suddenly upon
land seller, the daughter of a man named Socrates). their forces at noon, when, not expecting any thing
This woman they dressed up as Athene in a full of the kind, the men had betaken themselves after
suit of armour, and placed in a chariot, with Peisi- their meal to sleep or play, and speedily put them
stratus by her side, instructing her how she was to to flight. He then, with equal wisdom and mode
maintain a suitable carriage. The chariot was then ration, refrained from pursuing the fugitives with
driven towards the city, heralds being sent on his troops, but sent forward his sons on horseback,
before to announce that Athene in person was who, having overtaken the flying Athenians, told
bringing back Peisistratus to her Acropolis. The them they had nothing to fear if they would dis-
report spread rapidly, and those in the city be perse quietly to their homes. The majority obeyed
lieving that the woman was really their tutelary these directions, and Peisistratus entered Athens
goddess, worshipped her, and admitted Peisistratus. without opposition (Herod. i. 61-63; Polyaen.
(Herod. i. 60 ; Polyaen. Strateg. i. 21.
$ 1, where Strat. i. 21. s 1. The account of the latter, how-
there is a good deal of blundering). “This story,” ever, is full of blunders). Lygdamis was rewarded
remarks Bishop Thirlwall (Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. for his zealous co-operation by being established as
p. 60), “ would indeed be singular, if we consider tyrant of Naxos, which island Peisistratus con-
the expedient in the light of a stratagem, on which quered. [LYGDAMIS. )
the confederates relied for overcoming the resistance Having now become tyrant of Athens for the
which they might otherwise have expected from third time*, Peisistratus adopted measures to secure
their adversaries. But it seems quite as likely
tbat the pageant was only designed to add extra- There is a good deal of difficulty with regard
ordinary solemnity to the entrance of Peisistratus, to the chronology of Peisistratus. "The dates of
and to suggest the reflection, that it was by the his usurpation and death may be fixed with tolo
## p. 171 (#187) ############################################
PEISISTRATUS.
171
been
Ethanlah
part del
SLEED hope
200
tbe
the are
heit Arch
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atos Tel
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121 ಜನ
liberated
persat
alerted
im The
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be porno
PEISISTRATUS.
the undisturbed possession of his supremacy. He took | in Naxos. Others of the Athenians either fled or
a body of foreign mercenaries into his pay, and seized were exiled. Among the latter was Cimon, the
as hostages the children of several of the principal father of Miltiades, who, however, was afterwards
citizens, placing them in the custody of Lygdamis, permitted to return (CIMON). The revenues which
Peisistratus needed for the pay of his troops, were
rable accuracy, as also the relative lengths of the derived partly from Attica (the produce, very
periods during which he was in possession of the likely, in part at least, of the mines at Laureion),
tyranny and in exile. Aristotle (Pol. v. 12, p. partly from some gold mines on the Strymon. How
1315, ed. Bekk. ) says that in the space of thirty- he became possessed of these we do not know.
three years he was in possession of the tyranny | It is most likely that they were private property,
during 17 years ; his sons holding the tyranny and came into his hands during his second exile,
after him for eighteen years, making thirty-five somehow or other through his connection with the
years in all. His tyranny commenced in B. C. 560; royal family of Macedonia, a connection of which
his death happened in B. c. 527. He had three we subsequently see a proof in the offer of the
distinct periods of government, with two periods of town of Anthemus made by Amyntns to Hippias.
exile, the latter amounting together to fifteen years. (Herod. v. 94. ) It appears to have been shortly
The second period of exile lasted ten yeart complete after his restoration, that Peisistratus purified the
(Herod. i. 62). That would leave about five years island of Delos, in accordance with the directions
for the first exile. Clinton (Fasti Hellen, vol. ii. of an oracle, by removing all the dead bodies which
p. 203) assigns six years for the first period of go had been buried within sight of the temple to
vernment, one for the second, and ten for the third. another part of the island. (Herod. i. 64; Thucyd.
In doing this he assumes that Hippias was born iii, 104. ) Besides the subjugation of Naxos, the
in the first year of the tyranny of Peisistratus, and only other foreign military expedition which we
that it was in the first period of his rule that hear of his andertaking in this third period of his
Croesus sent to Greece to form alliances against tyranny was the conquest of Sigeum, then in the
Cyrus. To this scheme it is objected by Vater (in hands of the Mytilenaeans. The Athenians had
Ersch and Gruber's Encyclop. art. Peisistratus) that long before laid claim to the island, and had waged
it is clear from the narrative of Herodotus (i. 59 ; war with the Mytilenaeans for the possession of it,
comp. i. 65, init. ), that it was in the third period and it was awarded to them through the arbitm-
of the government of Peisistratus that Croesus senttion of Periander. Peisistratus established his
to Greece ; that Peisistratus was expelled shortly bastard son Hegesistratus as tyrant in the town.
after he seized the citadel, before his power was (Herod. v. 94, 95. ) Polyaenus (Strat. v. 14)
firmly rooted (a strange mode of describing a period mentions some operations conducted by his son
of six years); and that on the occasion of his mar- Hippias, for the suppression of piracy.
riage with the daughter of Megacles, Hippias (ac- Having now firmly established bimself in the
cording to Clinton) would be only thirteen years government, Peisistratus maintained the form of
old, his brother Hipparchus still younger ; and yet Solon's institutions, only taking care, as his sons
they are called veávias by Herodotus, and Hip- did after him (Thucyd. vi. 54), that the highest
parchus is stated to have married Phya ; and when offices should always be held by some member of
Peisistratus shortly after retired to Eretria they the family. He not only exacted obedience to the
were both old enough to assist him with their laws from his subjects and friends, but himself set
advice (Herod. i. 61). The mention of Hippias in the example of submitting to them. On one occa-
connection with the battle of Marathon is not in the sion he even appeared before the Areiopagus to
least inconsistent with his being eighty or eighty- answer a charge of murder, which however was
five years old (his teeth were then so loose from not prosecuted. (Arist. Pol. v. 12, p. 1315, ed.
age that one of them dropped out when he sneezed). Bekker; Plut. Solon. 31). His government seems
That Hippias was born before the year B. 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
={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
ërt : 12
Bács (
aprova del
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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.
A similar stratagem had been practised by Thea- Peisistratus was a second time compelled to evacuate
genes of Megara, and was afterwards imitated by Athens (Herod. i. 6)). This time he left Attica,
Dionysius (Diod. xiii. 97). Megacles and the and retired to Eretria in Euboea. (The very ex-
Alcmaeonidae took to ilight. Solon, after another traordinary statement in Eusebius, Chron. Olymp.
ineffectual attempt to rouse the citizens against the 54. 3, and Hieronymus, that Peisistratus went
usurper, placed his arms in the street before his into Italy, is doubtless a blunder, Vater con-
door, saying that he had done his utmost to defend jectures that the name Italy has been substituted
his country and its laws. Peisistratus, having by mistake for that of some place in Attica, perhaps
secured to himself the substance of power, made no Icarin, and that the statement refers to the first
further change in the constitution, or in the laws, exile of Peisistratus. ). His property was again
which he administered ably and well.
offered for sale (ÖKWs & Ticon, Herod. vi. 121), and
The first usurpation of Peisistratus Insted but a again Callias, who had been one of his most active
short time (Herod. i. 60. uerd où motor xpóvor opponents, was the only purchaser.
- εξελαύνουσί μιν). Before his power was firmly On reaching Eretria Peisistratus deliberated
rooted, the factions headed by Megacles and Ly- with his sons as to the course he should pursue.
curgus combined, and Peisistratus was compelled The advice of Hippias, that he should make a
to evacuate Athens. As, on his second expulsion, fresh attempt to regain his power, was adopted.
are distinctly told (Herod. i. 61) that he contributions were solicited from the cities which
quitted Attica, the presumption is, that on the first were in his interest. Several furnished him with
occasion he did not. His property was confiscated large sums. Thebes especially surpassed all the
and sold by auction, when the only man who ven- rest in the amount of noney which she placed at
tured to purchase it was Callias, the son of Hip- his disposal. With the funds thus raised be pro-
ponicus (Herod. vi. 121). How Peisistratus em- cured mercenaries from Argos. Ten years elapsed
ployed himself during his banishment, which lasted before his preparations were complete. At last,
about six years, we do not know. Meantime, the however, with the forces which he had raised, a
factions of Megacles and Lycurgus, having accom- Naxian named Lygdamis having also of his own
plished their immediate object, revived their old accord brought him both money and a body of
feuds, and Megacles, finding himself the weaker of troops, he crossed into Attica, and landed at Ma-
the two, made overtures to Peisistratus, offering to rathon. Here his friends and partisans flocked to
reinstaté him in the tyranny, if he would connect his standard. His antagonists, who had viewed
himself with him by receiving his daughter Coe- his proceedings with great indifference, when they
syra (Suidas s. v. éYKEROLO UPWHévnu) in marriage. heard that he was advancing upon Athens bastily
The proposal was accepted by Peisistratus, and the marched out to meet him. . The two armies en-
following stratagem was devised for accomplishing camped not far from each other, near the temple of
(as Herodotus supposes) his restoration. In what Athene at Pallene, and Peisistratus, seizing the
was afterwards the deme Paeonia, they found a opportunity with which the remissness of his anta-
damsel named Phya, of remarkable stature and gonists furnished him, and encouraged by the sooth-
beauty (according to Athenaeus xiii. p. 609, a gar- sayer Amphilytus of Acharnae, fell suddenly upon
land seller, the daughter of a man named Socrates). their forces at noon, when, not expecting any thing
This woman they dressed up as Athene in a full of the kind, the men had betaken themselves after
suit of armour, and placed in a chariot, with Peisi- their meal to sleep or play, and speedily put them
stratus by her side, instructing her how she was to to flight. He then, with equal wisdom and mode
maintain a suitable carriage. The chariot was then ration, refrained from pursuing the fugitives with
driven towards the city, heralds being sent on his troops, but sent forward his sons on horseback,
before to announce that Athene in person was who, having overtaken the flying Athenians, told
bringing back Peisistratus to her Acropolis. The them they had nothing to fear if they would dis-
report spread rapidly, and those in the city be perse quietly to their homes. The majority obeyed
lieving that the woman was really their tutelary these directions, and Peisistratus entered Athens
goddess, worshipped her, and admitted Peisistratus. without opposition (Herod. i. 61-63; Polyaen.
(Herod. i. 60 ; Polyaen. Strateg. i. 21.
$ 1, where Strat. i. 21. s 1. The account of the latter, how-
there is a good deal of blundering). “This story,” ever, is full of blunders). Lygdamis was rewarded
remarks Bishop Thirlwall (Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. for his zealous co-operation by being established as
p. 60), “ would indeed be singular, if we consider tyrant of Naxos, which island Peisistratus con-
the expedient in the light of a stratagem, on which quered. [LYGDAMIS. )
the confederates relied for overcoming the resistance Having now become tyrant of Athens for the
which they might otherwise have expected from third time*, Peisistratus adopted measures to secure
their adversaries. But it seems quite as likely
tbat the pageant was only designed to add extra- There is a good deal of difficulty with regard
ordinary solemnity to the entrance of Peisistratus, to the chronology of Peisistratus. "The dates of
and to suggest the reflection, that it was by the his usurpation and death may be fixed with tolo
## p. 171 (#187) ############################################
PEISISTRATUS.
171
been
Ethanlah
part del
SLEED hope
200
tbe
the are
heit Arch
Je resse
atos Tel
Enter coa
121 ಜನ
liberated
persat
alerted
im The
Laad 1
be porno
PEISISTRATUS.
the undisturbed possession of his supremacy. He took | in Naxos. Others of the Athenians either fled or
a body of foreign mercenaries into his pay, and seized were exiled. Among the latter was Cimon, the
as hostages the children of several of the principal father of Miltiades, who, however, was afterwards
citizens, placing them in the custody of Lygdamis, permitted to return (CIMON). The revenues which
Peisistratus needed for the pay of his troops, were
rable accuracy, as also the relative lengths of the derived partly from Attica (the produce, very
periods during which he was in possession of the likely, in part at least, of the mines at Laureion),
tyranny and in exile. Aristotle (Pol. v. 12, p. partly from some gold mines on the Strymon. How
1315, ed. Bekk. ) says that in the space of thirty- he became possessed of these we do not know.
three years he was in possession of the tyranny | It is most likely that they were private property,
during 17 years ; his sons holding the tyranny and came into his hands during his second exile,
after him for eighteen years, making thirty-five somehow or other through his connection with the
years in all. His tyranny commenced in B. C. 560; royal family of Macedonia, a connection of which
his death happened in B. c. 527. He had three we subsequently see a proof in the offer of the
distinct periods of government, with two periods of town of Anthemus made by Amyntns to Hippias.
exile, the latter amounting together to fifteen years. (Herod. v. 94. ) It appears to have been shortly
The second period of exile lasted ten yeart complete after his restoration, that Peisistratus purified the
(Herod. i. 62). That would leave about five years island of Delos, in accordance with the directions
for the first exile. Clinton (Fasti Hellen, vol. ii. of an oracle, by removing all the dead bodies which
p. 203) assigns six years for the first period of go had been buried within sight of the temple to
vernment, one for the second, and ten for the third. another part of the island. (Herod. i. 64; Thucyd.
In doing this he assumes that Hippias was born iii, 104. ) Besides the subjugation of Naxos, the
in the first year of the tyranny of Peisistratus, and only other foreign military expedition which we
that it was in the first period of his rule that hear of his andertaking in this third period of his
Croesus sent to Greece to form alliances against tyranny was the conquest of Sigeum, then in the
Cyrus. To this scheme it is objected by Vater (in hands of the Mytilenaeans. The Athenians had
Ersch and Gruber's Encyclop. art. Peisistratus) that long before laid claim to the island, and had waged
it is clear from the narrative of Herodotus (i. 59 ; war with the Mytilenaeans for the possession of it,
comp. i. 65, init. ), that it was in the third period and it was awarded to them through the arbitm-
of the government of Peisistratus that Croesus senttion of Periander. Peisistratus established his
to Greece ; that Peisistratus was expelled shortly bastard son Hegesistratus as tyrant in the town.
after he seized the citadel, before his power was (Herod. v. 94, 95. ) Polyaenus (Strat. v. 14)
firmly rooted (a strange mode of describing a period mentions some operations conducted by his son
of six years); and that on the occasion of his mar- Hippias, for the suppression of piracy.
riage with the daughter of Megacles, Hippias (ac- Having now firmly established bimself in the
cording to Clinton) would be only thirteen years government, Peisistratus maintained the form of
old, his brother Hipparchus still younger ; and yet Solon's institutions, only taking care, as his sons
they are called veávias by Herodotus, and Hip- did after him (Thucyd. vi. 54), that the highest
parchus is stated to have married Phya ; and when offices should always be held by some member of
Peisistratus shortly after retired to Eretria they the family. He not only exacted obedience to the
were both old enough to assist him with their laws from his subjects and friends, but himself set
advice (Herod. i. 61). The mention of Hippias in the example of submitting to them. On one occa-
connection with the battle of Marathon is not in the sion he even appeared before the Areiopagus to
least inconsistent with his being eighty or eighty- answer a charge of murder, which however was
five years old (his teeth were then so loose from not prosecuted. (Arist. Pol. v. 12, p. 1315, ed.
age that one of them dropped out when he sneezed). Bekker; Plut. Solon. 31). His government seems
That Hippias was born before the year B. 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.
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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.
