Cypselus
Cypselus | |
---|---|
Tyrant of Corinth | |
Reign | 657–627 BC |
Predecessor | Bacchiadae |
Successor | Periander |
Born | before 670 BC Corinth |
Died | 627 BC Corinth |
Consort | Cratea |
Issue |
|
Greek | Κύψελος |
Greek polytheism |
Cypselus (Greek: Κύψελος, Kypselos) was the first tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC.
With increased wealth and more complicated trade relations and social structures, Greek city-states tended to overthrow their traditional hereditary priest-kings; Corinth, the richest archaic polis, led the way.[1] Like the signori of late medieval and Renaissance Italy, the tyrants usually seized power at the head of some popular support. Often the tyrants upheld existing laws and customs and were highly conservative as to cult practices, thus maintaining stability with little risk to their own personal security. As in Renaissance Italy, a cult of personality naturally substituted for the divine right of the former legitimate royal house.
After the last traditional king of Corinth,
According to
When Cypselus had grown up, he fulfilled the prophecy. Corinth had been involved in wars with
He ruled for thirty years and in 627 BC was succeeded as tyrant by his son Periander, who was considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece. The treasury Cypselus built at Delphi was apparently still standing in the time of Herodotus. Cypselus' second son Gorgus became tyrant of the Corinthian colony
Notes
- ^ J. B. Salmon, Wealthy Corinth. A History of the City to 338 B.C. (Oxford: Clarendon Press) 1984.
- ^ Pausanias, 5.18.7.
- ^ "Perseus Under Philologic: Arist. Ath. Pol. 17.4". perseus.uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06.
- ^ Kinzl, Konrad (Peterborough) (October 2006). "Timonassa". Brill's New Pauly.
- ^ L. G. Pechatnova, A History of Sparta (Archaic and Classic Periods)