Peisistratus had a complicated and theatrical rise to power during the sixth century BCE (see this earlier article). After some complications with an ally, Peisistratus finally became tyrant of Athens for good on his third try. At this time in history, a tyrant was simply a person who had garnered enough support to place themselves in charge of a city. In order to stay in power, a tyrant had to ensure that the population was content with his choices. He also needed to prove that his presence was an asset to the city. Peisistratus had done much to elevate the city of Athens and the surrounding area by supporting and building a number of temples and sanctuaries. He even worked to attract poets to Athens in an effort to increase the city’s cultural influence. He remained in power as the tyrant of Athens until he died a peaceful death from sickness at an elderly age, during the archonship of Philoneos, in 528-527 BCE.
Peisistratus was succeeded by his two sons Hipparchos and Hippias. Hippias was the oldest son and a skilled politician. Hipparchos was not as strongly involved in politics, but he was fond of amusement and literature. Ironically, Hipparchos would be the one to cause the downfall of tyranny in ancient Athens, and the initial cause was not related to politics.
Hipparchos fell in love with Harmodius who was already involved with Aristogeiton. After multiple failed attempts to seduce Harmodius, Hipparchos began to resent Harmodius. He lashed out in various ways, trying to hurt Harmodius. In one instance, Hipparchos prevented Harmodius’ sister from being a Basket-bearer in the Panathenaic festival by insulting her brother and calling him effeminate. Eventually, Harmodius had had enough. Along with his lover Aristogeiton and a few trusted accomplices, they made a plan to kill Hipparchos.
After careful planning, they chose a time and place to make their move. On the day of, as they were preparing to strike, the two lovers noticed one of their accomplices talking to Hippias, Hipparchos’ brother. Fearing the accomplice was betraying them they immediately attacked Hipparchos and killed him when he was directing the start of the Panathenaic festival. In the chaos Harmodius was killed by a spearman and Aristogeiton was captured.
An enraged Hippias had Aristogeiton tortured for information on who was involved in the plot to kill his brother. The grief stricken brother wanted blood, he wanted revenge, but Aristogeiton would not give it to him. Defiant to the end, Aristogeiton only gave the names of people loyal to Hippias in the hopes that he would dispose of his own allies. Eventually, Aristogeiton’s taunts led Hippias to completely lose control and kill the man in a fit of rage. It seems Hippias was never able to recover from this incident, as his blood lust only increased.
Following the murder of his brother, the sole tyrant became ruthless in his rule. No longer was Hippias seeking to better the city of Athens. He had become angry and resentful, and it did not take long for Hippias to start abusing his power. He had many Athenians exiled or executed in revenge for his brother’s death. Due to Aristogeiton’s earlier trickery, he began suspecting his own friends and allies in earnest. For the first time in history, the Peisistratid rule became a true tyranny as we understand it today.
This terrifying state of affairs continued for four years until the tyrant Hippias was driven out by the Spartan king Kleomenes who had been following the advice of an oracle. The Peisistratid tyranny lasted a total of 17 years under Hippias when he was expelled during the archonship of Harpaktides in 511-510 BC (the whole of the Peisistratid tyranny lasted between 35 and 36 years).
History would remember Harmodius and Aristogeiton as the brave men who overthrew the terrible tyrants of Athens, despite the fact that they were the ones who triggered the shift from a benevolent ruler, to a vengeful and paranoid tyrant.
In short, the tyrants of the past were responsible for multiple building projects which would be used for centuries to come as well as building major sites of worship, and brought culture to Athens. The Peisistratidae tyrannies overall had served Athens very well. It was only after the brutal murder of Hipparchos that Hippias transformed into a vengeful and bloodthirsty tyrant. His actions were so extreme, that it completely redefined the meaning of the word tyrant into the one we recognize today: a dangerous leader who must be overthrown.
Text: Cindy G. Levesque. MENAM Archaeology. Copyright 2023.
Images: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Photos by Cindy G Levesque
Further Readings
Aristotle, n.d. Athenian Constitution. s.l.:www.perseus.com.
Herodotus, 2008. The Histories. s.l.:Oxford University Press.
Lavelle, B. M., 2005. Fame, Money and Power. Ann Arbor: The Univeristy of Michigan Press.
Plutarch, n.d. Solon. s.l.:www.perseus.com.
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