Hippias (tyrant)
Hippias | |
---|---|
Ἱππίας | |
Peisistratus | |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 570 BC Athens |
Died | 490 BC (aged c. 80) Lemnos |
Relations | Hipparchus (brother) |
Children | Archedice and 4 others |
Parent | Pisistratus |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Achaemenid Empire |
Years of service | 490 BC |
Battles/wars | |
Hippias (
Early life
Hippias was born around 570 BC as the eldest son of Pisistratus, the first tyrant of Athens.[2] When his father was forced to flee to Eretria after insulting Megakles by having intercourse with his daughter in an indecent way, Peisistratos held counsel with his sons. Hippias suggested that they should retake the tyranny, which his father agreed to. Preparations began for which Athens fell to Peisistratos for the third time in 546 BC.[3]
Tyrant of Athens
Hippias succeeded Peisistratos as tyrant of Athens in 528/7 BC when his father died of advanced age. He was a patron of poets and craftsmen and under his rule Athens experienced a time of prosperity.
His brother
The
Attempts to reclaim the tyranny and death
The Spartans later concluded that a free and democratic Athens would be dangerous to Spartan power and that it would be weaker and easier to control if under a tyranny. The Spartans then attempted to recall Hippias from Persia and re-establish the tyranny.[13] Hippias arrived, but was soon forced into exile once more when the Corinthians and the other Spartan allies expressed that they did not think a tyranny should be imposed upon any of the Greek cities.[14] As Hippias made his way back, he was offered the cities of Anthemous and Iolkos but he refused them and made for Sigeion instead at the entrance to the Hellespont.[15] There he placed his illegitimate son, Hegesistratos, as tyrant of Sigeion.[15] Hippias returned to Asia were he railed against the Athenians to Artaphrenes, the governor of Sardis. The Athenians discovered Hippias' intentions, however, and sent a letter to Sardis to dissuade the Persians from listening to Athenian exiles but the Persians threatened to attack Athens if they did not accept Hippias' return. Nevertheless, the Athenians preferred to remain democratic despite the danger from Persia and refused to comply.[16]
Soon after this, the
Hippias is said to have died on the return journey from the Battle of Marathon, at Lemnos.[21]
Legacy
Hippias had five sons by
Construction of the
Hippias was one of several Greek aristocrats who took refuge in the
References
- ^ Aristotle, The Athenian Constitution, Part 18
- ISBN 0-19-814273-0.
- ^ Herodotus 1.61.1-3
- ^ Thucydides 6.57.4
- ^ Smith, William (1851). A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology and geography. New York: Harper. p. 671.
- ^ Herodotus 5.62.2
- ISBN 978-0-674-03314-6.
- ^ Thucydides 6.59.3
- ^ Herodotus 5.63
- ISBN 978-1-84964-713-7.
- ISBN 978-1-4381-1020-2.
- ^ Thucydides 6.59.4
- ^ 5.91.1-2
- ^ Herodotus 5.93.2
- ^ a b Herodotus 5.94.1
- ^ Herodotus 5.96.1-2
- ^ Smith, Willam (1851). A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, Mythology, and Geography. New York: Harper. p. 671.
- ^ Herodotus 6.107.1-2
- ^ Herodotus 6.107.3-4
- ^ Herodotus 6.109.3
- ^ "It was he who advised the landing at Marathon where the Athenian army won a decisive victory. He is said to have died at Lemnos on the journey home." in Hippias, tyrant of Athens. Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ Thucydides 6.55.1
- ^ Thucydides 6.54.6
- ^ Burn, A. R. (1988). The Pelican History of Greece. London: Penguin. p. 173.
- ^ Aristotle, Politics, Book V, chapter 11
- ^ "Athens Olympian Zeus Temple".
- ^ "Hippias." Livius, www.livius.org/articles/person/hippias/.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-60758-2.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-521-22804-2.
- Miller, Julius (1913), "Hippias 1", Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE, PW), volume 8, part 2, columns 1703–1705.