| The idea of tyranny today is of a negative | | | | restore him to power as long as he married the |
| government based on one person who often | | | | daughter of Megakles. Peisistratos agreed to |
| abuses power and people. A recent example of | | | | Megakles' offer, however to ensure that his rule |
| tyranny in the modern sense would be Saddam | | | | was welcomed he devised a plan to win over the |
| Hussein. This modern view is at odds to the | | | | Athenians. He went to the village of Paeania and |
| ancient perspective of tyranny. A tyrant was a | | | | recruited a girl known a Phye. She was nearly six |
| person who by various means elevated | | | | foot tall and was dressed as Athene in armour |
| themselves to a position of power. They usually | | | | and helmet. He then drove into Athens on a |
| did this by finding favour with the people, which | | | | chariot with Phyle at his side. The Athenians |
| meant treating the masses well. | | | | believed that Athene herself was endorsing the |
| Peisistratos (also known as Pisistratos or | | | | rule of Peisistratos and welcomed him into the |
| Peisistratus) was a tyrant of Athens during the | | | | city of Athens. He then married the daughter of |
| 6th century BC. He ruled c550-520 BC although | | | | Megakles, however he refused to sleep with her |
| this was not a continuous rule. Peisistratos was | | | | in the normal way and thus stop her having any |
| the son of Hippokrates (Hippocrates) and | | | | children. At first nothing was said about this, |
| according to Herodotos (Herodotus) he was | | | | however Megakles was soon informed by his |
| advised by the Spartan Chilon to never marry | | | | daughter of Peisistratos' deception. Megakles |
| and have children. He ignored this advice and later | | | | reunited with his political enemies to determined to |
| Peisistratos was born. | | | | overthrow Peisistratos. |
| Athens during the 6th century BC was a split city. | | | | This time, the tyant left Athens and went to the |
| The Alkmaeonid (Alcmaeonid) family had great | | | | island of Eretria to consult with his two older sons |
| influence over the coastal parts of Attica and | | | | Hippias and Hipparchos (Hipparchus). They spent |
| Megakles (Megacles) the son of Alkmaeon led the | | | | time collecting money and forces from all towns |
| coastal inhabitants against their rivals the inland | | | | that they had influence over, including Thebes and |
| inhabitants led by Lykourgos (Lycourgus). The | | | | Naxos under the authority of Lygdamis, as well as |
| coastal faction wanted an oligarchy (rule of the | | | | mercenaries from Argos. When everything was |
| few over the many), while the inland factions | | | | ready, Peisistratos marched on Athens. He |
| wanted a more moderate system of | | | | attacked Marathon and won many followers |
| government. Peisistratos understood that such | | | | there. His army finally came face to face with the |
| strife could lead to a power vacuum that he could | | | | Athenian army at the temple of Athene Pallenis. |
| fill. He devised a new faction of the Attic | | | | He then heard a prophecy from the prophet |
| population called the Hyperakrioi (the men over | | | | Amphilytos (Amphilytos). The prophecy went as |
| the hills). He used deception and favourable | | | | follows: |
| treatment towards the poor of society to gain | | | | The net is cast and the meshes of it are cast |
| power. He pretended that he had been attacked | | | | wide, |
| by his enemies and that they might be violent | | | | In the moonlit night the tunnels will come darting |
| towards the city. His good works towards his | | | | through the sea. |
| followers, combined with his previous military | | | | Peisistratos advanced towards Athens and |
| service for Athens convinced the rest of the | | | | attacked the city while the inhabitants were |
| Athenians that he should be protected from | | | | enjoying their midday siesta. Many Athenians fled, |
| further harm. They armed themselves and took | | | | however Peisistratos caught up with those fleeing |
| him up to the Acropolis. As soon as he reached | | | | the city and managed to persuade them to return |
| the Acropolis he assumed power of the city. | | | | to the city. Peisistratos now had a firm foundation |
| Herodotos says that this initial period of Peistratos' | | | | to base his power. The Almaeonids fled the city |
| rule as continuing the traditions and laws of the | | | | and Peisistratos recruited a bodyguard. From this |
| Athens and treating her citizens with respect. | | | | time on, Peisistratos would remain the tyrant of |
| This period came abruptly to an end when the | | | | Athens until his death. His sons would take on the |
| two factions under Lykourgos and Megakles came | | | | family tyranny that would end with their |
| together to expel him from the city. Soon after, | | | | overthrow by the tyrant slayers Harmodius and |
| infighting and unrest drove Megakles to ask | | | | Aristogeiton at the end of the 6th century BC. |
| Peistratos for support. He promised Peisistratos to | | | | |