Cleisthenes of Sicyon
Encyclopedia
Cleisthenes was the tyrant of Sicyon
from c. 600–570 BC, who aided in the First Sacred War
against Kirrha that destroyed that city in 595 BC. He is also told to have organized with success a war against Argos
because of his anti-Dorian feelings. After his victory he abolished all the rhapsodists of Homer
, because they vaunted the citizens of Argos
. The key innovation of his reign, which Herodotus mentions, is the reformation of the tribal system in the city of Sicyon. Herodotus states that he gave new names to all the tribes, calling his own non-Doric tribe, rulers of the people, and naming the other three Doric tribes after various animals. Herodotus does not however, relate exactly what Cleisthenes' reform was. Whatever this reform was, it must have been successful for all the tribes kept their names for a long time, even after the death of Cleisthenes.
Cleisthenes of Sicyon organized a competition with his beautiful daughter Agariste
as the prize. The two main competitors for her were the Alcmaeonid Megacles
, and Hippocleides
. Because Hippocleides
made a fool of himself by dancing drunkenly in front of Cleisthenes, Megacles was chosen to marry Agariste.
A relative of Cleisthenes was the later Cleisthenes of Athens and Agariste, the mother of Pericles
.
His death is estimated around or before 532 BC.
Sicyon
Sikyon was an ancient Greek city situated in the northern Peloponnesus between Corinth and Achaea on the territory of the present-day prefecture of Corinthia...
from c. 600–570 BC, who aided in the First Sacred War
First Sacred War
The First Sacred War was fought between the Amphictyonic League of Delphi and the city of Kirrha. The conflict arose due to Kirrha's frequent robbery and mistreatment of pilgrims going to Delphi and their encroachments upon Delphic land. The war resulted in the defeat and destruction of Kirrha...
against Kirrha that destroyed that city in 595 BC. He is also told to have organized with success a war against Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
because of his anti-Dorian feelings. After his victory he abolished all the rhapsodists of Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
, because they vaunted the citizens of Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
. The key innovation of his reign, which Herodotus mentions, is the reformation of the tribal system in the city of Sicyon. Herodotus states that he gave new names to all the tribes, calling his own non-Doric tribe, rulers of the people, and naming the other three Doric tribes after various animals. Herodotus does not however, relate exactly what Cleisthenes' reform was. Whatever this reform was, it must have been successful for all the tribes kept their names for a long time, even after the death of Cleisthenes.
Cleisthenes of Sicyon organized a competition with his beautiful daughter Agariste
Agariste of Sicyon
Agariste was the daughter, and possibly the heiress, of the tyrant of Sicyon, Cleisthenes. Her father wanted to marry her to the best of the Hellenes and, subsequently, he organized a competition, whose prize was his own daughter...
as the prize. The two main competitors for her were the Alcmaeonid Megacles
Megacles
Megacles was the name of several notable men of ancient Athens:1. Megacles was possibly a legendary Archon of Athens from 922 BC to 892 BC....
, and Hippocleides
Hippocleides
Hippocleides , the son of Teisander , was an Athenian nobleman, who served as Eponymous Archon for the year 566 BC – 565 BC.He was a member of the Philaidae, a wealthy Athenian family which was opposed to the family of Peisistratus...
. Because Hippocleides
Hippocleides
Hippocleides , the son of Teisander , was an Athenian nobleman, who served as Eponymous Archon for the year 566 BC – 565 BC.He was a member of the Philaidae, a wealthy Athenian family which was opposed to the family of Peisistratus...
made a fool of himself by dancing drunkenly in front of Cleisthenes, Megacles was chosen to marry Agariste.
A relative of Cleisthenes was the later Cleisthenes of Athens and Agariste, the mother of Pericles
Pericles
Pericles was a prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens during the city's Golden Age—specifically, the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars...
.
His death is estimated around or before 532 BC.
Sources
- Sealey, Raphael: A History of the Greek City States 700–338 B.C. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976.