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[German version] (Πιττακός/ Pittakós: MSS; Φίττακος/ Phíttakos: MS 562, Alc., papyrus). Tyrant of Mytilene, early 6th cent. BC (Alc. 87 Diehl [2. vol. 1] = 348 Lobel/Page = Voigt), considered one of the Seven Sages (Pl. Prt. 343a; Diod. Sic. 9,11f.; Str. 13,2,3; Diog. Laert. 1,75 and 77; Plut. Mor. 147b et passim). His father, Hyrrhas (Alc. 24a Diehl = 129 Lobel/Page = Voigt) is said to have come from Thrace (Duris FGrH 76 F 75; Suda s.v. Π.), where the personal name P. is attested (Thuc. 4,107). In 607/6 BC (Jer. Chron. on 607/6), P. was strategos in the war with Athens over Sigeum (Str. …

(Ἱστιαῖος; Histiaîos). [German version] [1] Son of Lysagoras, tyrant of Miletus, approx. 513 BC Son of Lysagoras, tyrant of Miletus, spokesman for the Ionians on the Ister, urging to maintain the bridge for  Darius' [1] return from the Scythian campaign c. 513 BC with the argument that their  tyrannis depended on Darius (Hdt. 4,137). His disproportionately elaborate biography in Herodotus reveals two tendencies: he is the clever, ambitious hero without success; he is blamed for the negative course that the Ionian Revolt took [2. 486f.…

[German version] (Συλοσῶν/ Sylosôn). Younger brother of Polycrates [1] of Samos. With the latter he achieved tyrannis in about 540 BC, but was then expelled (Hdt. 3,39). Egypt c. 525 BC is the scene of an anecdote that made him the 'benefactor' ( euergétēs) of Darius [1] (Hdt. 3,139 f.). After the latter came to power in 522, S. won him over to making him the successor of Polycrates [1], who had been killed in the meantime. An army under Otanes [1] marched against Maeandrius [1], the tyrant ruling in Samos, (Hdt. 3,140-149) whose underha…

(τυραννίς/ tyrannís, Archaic Gk. also τυραννίη/ tyranníē; τύραννος/ týrannos; Latin tyrannus). [German version] I. Term; alterations in meaning Tyrannos (non-Greek loan-word, perhaps from Lydian tūran/'lord') is first attested around the mid-7th cent. as the term denoting the Lydian king Gyges [1] (Archil. 22,3 Diehl; fr. 19 West). Greek Archaic poetry used tyrannis synonymously with monarchía , but tyrannos was never used in self-presentation or as a title, but was used by aristocrats to attack a peer. This is exemplified in the polemic of Alcaeus[4]…

[German version] (μοναρχία/ monarchía, ‘rule by one’). In archaic Greek poetry synonymous with the term tyrannís more commonly encountered there; used first by Alcaeus [4] of Myrsilus [1] and Pittacus of Mytilene (Alcaeus 122 Diehl = 6,27 Lobel/Page = Voigt; 179,3 L./P. = Voigt; SLG 271,5f.). Following the perspective of aristocratic society, ‘rule’ was turned into a polemical and abstract concept: an opportunity to realize one's own fortune through power and wealth, thus destroying society …

[German version] (Πολύφρων/ Polýphrōn). Brother of Iason [2] of Pherae and in 370 BC his successor together with their brother Polydorus [7] (Xen. Hell. 6,4,33). He killed the latter (Xen. Hell. 6,4,33; erroneous: Alexander [15] Diod. Sic. 15,61,2) a short time after. "He turned the position as tagós   into a tyranny" by banishing citizens of Larisa and killing, among others in Pharsalus, Polydamas [3] (Xen. Hell. 6,4,34). His nephew Alexander [15] deposed him in 369 (Xen. Hell. 6,4,34; Plut. Pelopidas 29). Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen…

[German version] (Πασέας; Paséas). Tyrant of Sicyon, in 253/2 BC he succeeded his murdered son Abantidas, who had been tyrant since 264. He was in turn murdered a year later by Nicocles [4] (Plut. Aratus 2f.; Paus. 2,8,2). Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen, 1967, 394; 396.

[German version] (Μεγιστώ/ Megistṓ). Wife of one Timoleon. In Plutarchus' ‘Bravery of Women (which was probably inspired by Phylarchos' ‘tragic’ school of historiography) she is a moral example and the leader of the women's resistance against Aristotimus, the tyrant of Elis for six months in 271/270 BC (Plut. Mor. 252b-e). After the tyrannicide, hers is the sole heroic voice raised on behalf of the tyrant's young daughters who are now at the mercy of the furious mob (Plut. Mor. 253c-e). Cobet, Justus (Essen)

[German version] (Ἵπποκλος; Híppoklos). H., (probably the first) tyrant of Lampsacus, was supported by the Persians and took part in the Scythian campaign of  Darius [1] I c. 513 BC (Hdt. 4,138).  Hippias [1] of Athens concluded a marriage alliance with him through the marriage of his daughter Archedice with H.' son and successor Aeantides, which at the same time meant a move in the direction of the Persians (Thuc. 6,59) and possibly was a reason for Sparta's intervention in Athens in 511/510 BC [1. 301].  Tyrannis Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography 1 D. M. Lewis, in: CAH 4, 21988. H. Be…

[German version] (Θεομήστωρ; Theomēstōr). Son of Androdamas from Samos, as a triḗrarchos in the Persian navy at the battle of Salamis [1] in 480 BC he sank Greek ships and was therefore installed as tyrant in Samos after Aeaces [2] (Hdt. 8,85). Without his knowledge the Samians negotiated with the Greek navy (Hdt. 9,90; cf. 9,103). When the Greeks assembled in Samos after their victory at Mycale in 479 (Hdt. 9,106), there is no further mention of T. Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen, 1967, 115 f.; 588  L. de Libero, Die archaische Tyrannis, 1996,…

(Σῖμος/ Sîmos). [German version] [1] Ruler in Larisa, 4th cent. BC Representative of a group of Aleuadae, ruler in Larisa [3] (Aristot. Pol. 1306a 26-30) about 358-344 BC; his name appears on coins of the city (HN p. 299). He gained his position from being a mediator (ἄρχων μεσίδιος/ árchōn mesídios, 'mediator plenipotentiary') in the oligarchic conflict, an example for Aristotle (contra [1. 503; 2. 295, 672; 3. 196; 4. 364-366]). The cruelty of his reaction to the killing of his brother was proverbial (Aristot. fr. 166 R.; Callim. fr. 588; sch…

[German version] (Πειθόλαος; Peithólaos). Third son of Iason [2] of Pherae. P. was involved in the murder of his brother-in-law Alexander [15] in 358 BC - this may have been the situation in which Isocrates's Epist. 6 to the sons of Iason was written - and in the tyrannies of the brothers Teisiphonus (358-355) and Lycophron [3] (355-352). He retreated with the latter after surrendering Pherae to Philippus [4] II of Macedon in 352 (Diod. Sic. 16,37,3); the two then supported Sparta in the Peloponnes…

[English version] (Πειθόλαος). Dritter Sohn des Iason [2] von Pherai. P. war beteiligt an der Ermordung des Schwagers Alexandros [15] 358 v.Chr. - in dieser Situation ist vielleicht epist. 6 des Isokrates an die Söhne Iasons entstanden - und an der Tyrannenmacht der Brüder Teisiphonos (358-355) und Lykophron [3] (355-352). Mit diesem zog er nach der Übergabe von Pherai an Philippos [4] II. von Makedonien 352 ab (Diod. 16,37,3); mit einem phokischen Aufgebot und 150 Reitern unterstützten beide dann…

[English version] (Πιττακός: Hss.; Φίττακος: HN 562, Alk. in den Papyri). Anf. des 6. Jh.v.Chr. Tyrann (Alk. 87 Diehl [2. Bd. 1] = 348 Lobel/Page = Voigt) von Mytilene; galt als einer der Sieben Weisen (Plat. Prot. 343a; Diod. 9,11f.; Strab. 13,2,3; Diog. Laert. 1,75 und 77; Plut. mor. 147b u.ö.). Sein Vater Hyrrhas (Alk. 24a D. = 129 L./P. = V.) soll aus Thrakien stammen (Duris FGrH 76 F 75; Suda s.v. P.), wo der PN P. belegt ist (Thuk. 4,107). P. war 607/6 v.Chr. (Hier. chron. zum J. 607/6) Stra…

(Ἱστιαῖος). [English version] [1] Sohn des Lysagoras, Tyrann von Milet, ca. 513 v. Chr. Sohn des Lysagoras, Tyrann von Milet, Wortführer der Ionier am Istros, die Brücke für Dareios' [1] Rückkehr vom Skythenzug ca. 513 v.Chr. zu erhalten mit dem Argument, ihrer aller Tyrannis hänge von Dareios ab (Hdt. 4,137). Seine unverhältnismäßig ausführliche Biographie bei Herodot spiegelt zwei Tendenzen: Er ist der schlaue Held mit Ambitionen ohne Erfolg; er wird mit dem negativen Verlauf des Ionischen Aufstandes belast…

[English version] (Ἵπποκλος). H., (vermutlich erster) Tyrann von Lampsakos, von den Persern gestützt und am Skythenfeldzug des Dareios [1] I. ca. 513 v.Chr. beteiligt (Hdt. 4,138). Hippias [1] von Athen schloß durch die Ehe seiner Tochter Archedike mit H.' Sohn und Nachfolger Aiantides mit ihm eine Heiratsallianz, die zugleich eine Annäherung an Persien (Thuk. 6,59) bedeutete und möglicherweise ein Grund für Spartas Eingreifen in Athen 511/510 v.Chr. war [1. 301]. Tyrannis Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography 1 D.M. Lewis, in: CAH 4, 21988. H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Gri…

[English version] (μοναρχία, “Alleinherrschaft”). In der griech. archa. Lyrik synonym mit dem dort häufiger belegten Begriff tyrannís , zuerst bei Alkaios [4] für Myrsilos [1] und für Pittakos von Mytilene (Alkaios 122 Diehl = 6,27 Lobel/Page = Voigt; 179,3 L./P. = Voigt; SLG 271,5f.). Aus der Perspektive aristokratischer Ges. wird “Herrschaft” polemisch abstrahiert als gemeinschaftssprengende Chance, mit Macht und Reichtum eigenes Glück zu verwirklichen (Sol. 10,3 D.; Thgn. 1,52; vgl. Archil.…

[English version] (Πολύφρων). Bruder des Iason [2] von Pherai, 370 v. Chr. mit dem Bruder Polydoros [7] dessen Nachfolger (Xen. hell. 6,4,33). Diesen ermordete er (Xen. hell. 6,4,33; irrtümlich: Alexandros [15] Diod. 15,61,2) nach kurzer Zeit. ‘Die Stellung als tagós gestaltete er zur Tyrannis’, indem er Bürger Larisas verbannte und in Pharsalos u. a. Polydamas [3] ermordete (Xen. hell. 6,4,34). Sein Neffe Alexandros [15] beseitigte ihn 369 (Xen. hell. 6,4,34; Plut. Pelopidas 29). Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen, 1967, 289 f.; 670.

[English version] (Μεγιστώ). Frau eines Timoleon, in Plutarchos' ‘Frauentugenden - wohl aus Phylarchos' “trag. Gesch.-Schreibung” schöpfend - moralisches Vorbild und Anführerin im weiblichen Widerstand gegen Aristotimos, der 271/270 v. Chr. für sechs Monate Tyrann von Elis war (Plut. mor. 252b-e), und einsame Heldin im Eintreten für dessen junge Töchter gegen die wütende Brutalität der Menge nach dem Tyrannenmord (Plut. mor. 253c-e). Cobet, Justus (Essen)

[English version] (Πασέας). Tyrann von Sikyon, trat 253/2 v.Chr. an die Stelle seines ermordeten Sohnes Abantidas (Tyrann seit 264). Er wurde seinerseits nach einem Jahr durch Nikokles [4] ermordet (Plut. Aratos 2f.; Paus. 2,8,2). Cobet, Justus (Essen) Bibliography H. Berve, Die Tyrannis bei den Griechen, 1967, 394; 396.