Cleisthenes of Sicyon

Cleisthenes (

Argos.^[1] The key innovation of his reign, which Herodotus mentions, was the reformation of the tribal system in the city of Sicyon. Herodotus states that he gave new names to the four tribes of Sicyon, calling his own tribe "Rulers of the People" and naming the other three tribes after swine, donkeys, and pigs. However, Herodotus does not describe the nature of Cleisthenes' reform. Whatever it was, all the tribes kept their new names for sixty years after Cleisthenes' death.^[2]

Cleisthenes of Sicyon organized a competition whose prize would be marriage to his beautiful daughter Agariste. The two main competitors were the Alcmaeonid Megacles and Hippocleides. Because Hippocleides made a fool of himself by dancing drunkenly in front of Cleisthenes, Megacles was chosen to marry Agariste.

Descendants of Cleisthenes include his grandson

Cleisthenes of Athens and his great-granddaughter Agariste, mother of Pericles

of Athens.

His death is estimated around 532 BC.

References

Argives
.)

^ The Landmark Herodotus, translated by Andrea L. Purvis, edited by Robert B. Strassler. Anchor Books, 2007. Page 396.

Sources

Sealey, Raphael, A History of the Greek City States 700–338 B.C. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976.

Authority control databases
International

VIAF

National

Greece

Vatican

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[1] Argives
.)

[2] The Landmark Herodotus, translated by Andrea L. Purvis, edited by Robert B. Strassler. Anchor Books, 2007. Page 396.

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