Peisistratus

Peisistratus, in the the work of Ingres: The Apotheosis of Homer

Peisistratos is the name of a major Athenian ruler, as well as a minor character in the Odyssey.

The name in Ancient Greek is Πεισίστρατος (Peisistratos). The standard spelling in English is Peisistratus; an alternate spelling (also used in Latin) is Pisistratus.[1]

Peisistratos of Athens

Peisistratos of Athens (Πεισίστρατος) (c.607 - 528 BC) was a Greek statesman who became the Tyrant of Athens following a (quite popular) coup and ruled in 561, 559-556 and 546-528 BC.

Peisistratos was son of a of a philosopher and teacher called Hippocratesand was named for the Peisistratos in the Odyssey. A friend of Solon [2] he assisted him in his endeavours, and fought bravely in the conquest of Salamis. When Solon left Athens, Peisistratus became leader of the party of the Highlands (poorer, rural people) in 565 BC. In 560 BC he seized the Acropolis with a group of bodyguards, becoming turannos (tyrant). His rule did not last - he was driven out by Lycurgus, Megacles and others from the party of the Coast within the year. He returned in 559 BC with the help of Megacles, who had split from Lycurgus. Megacles had allied with Peisistratus on the condition that Peisistratus marry Megacles' daughter. The Athenians were persuaded by Megacles that Athena was bringing Peisistratus home and Peisistratus returned from exile in a carriage accompanied by a woman disguised as Athena. Later, Megacles was angered by the fact that Peisistratus refused to have children with his daughter, and Peisistratus was again exiled again in 556 BC by Lycurgus and Megacles. He went to Euboea and remained there for almost ten years, becoming quite rich through mining. He returned to Athens in 546 BC with a considerable force and regained power with the support of Lygdamos of Naxos. This time he worked well to retained his position.Peisistratos rewarded Lygdamos by making him tyrant of Naxos.

Consolidating his power by favouring rural citizens with new land laws, Peisistratus also kept a large force of mercenaries and took hostages. He kept the democratic forms introduced by Solon but ensured that family members held the highest offices. Pisistratus promoted the cults of Athena and Dionysus. He began the construction of the temple to Athena on the Acropolis and also promoted a number of other public works including the Lyceum, temples to Apollo and to Zeus as well as the Fountain of the Nine Springs. He also supported literature and the arts. The Panathenaic Festival (reintroduced shortly before his reign) and the city Dionysia festival flourished during his time. Athenian coinage was introduced by about 550 BC, and may reflect policy of his, though there is no reference in contemporary documents to such. According to tradition, Pisistratus commissioned the first standard written editions of the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, which had previously been passed down orally or "cribbed" in private copies.

Peisistratus Aqueduct

Click image to enlarge

Peisistratus was succeeded by his son Hippias. But his other son, Hipparchus, is also mentioned together with Hippias, suggesting some form of joint rule.

Alcmaeonidae

Notes

^ The misspellings Psistratus, Peistratus, and Pesistratus are sometimes found.

^ Plutarch, The Lives, "Solon"

^ Cicero, On the Orator 3.137.

Sources

Herodotus. Histories
Aristotle. Politics

Athenian statesmen | Ancient Greece

Aeschines - Agyrrhius - Alcibiades - Andocides - Archinus - Aristides - Aristogeiton - Aristophon - Autocles

Callistratus - Chremonides - Cleisthenes - Cleon - Critias - Demades - Demetrius Phalereus - Demochares - Democles - Demosthenes

Ephialtes - Eubulus - Hyperbolos - Hypereides - Kimon - Kleophon - Lycurgus

Miltiades - Moerocles - Nicias - Peisistratus - Pericles - Philinus - Phocion - Themistocles