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Agariste ( Greek: Αγαρίστη) was the daughter of the tyrant of Sicyon, Cleisthenes.

His father wanted to marry her with the best of the Hellenes and, subsequently, he organized a competition, whose the prize was his own daughter. According to his declaration, all the eligible young men had to appear in Sicyon within 60 days. Finally, 12 competitors appeared[1] and Cleisthenes held a banquet in his guests' honour. Cleisthenes liked more Hippocleides but, during the dinner Hippocleides made a fool of himself. Specifically[2], Hippocleides became intoxicated and began to act like a fool; at one point he stood on his head and kicked his legs in the air, keeping time with the flute music. When Hippocleides was informed that he had "danced away his bride," his response was ου φροντις 'Ιπποκλειδη, ("Hippocleides doesn't care" or "It doesn't matter to Hippocleides").

After these unfortunate events the Alcmaeonid Megacles was chosen to marry Agariste, who gave birth to two sons, Hippocrates and Cleisthenes, the reformer of the Athenian democracy. Hippocrates' daughter was Agariste, the mother of Pericles.

See also

Cleisthenes

Hippocleides

Footnotes