A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

170 PEISISTRATUS. PEISISTRATUS.
into the country. The indignation of his friends especial favour of heaven that he had been so unwas excited; an assembly wAs forthwith called, in expectedly restored." It is said that Phya was
which Ariston, one of his partisans, proposed that given in marriage to Hipparchus (Athen. 1. c.).
a body-guard of fifty citizens, armed with clubs, Peisistratus nominally performed his part of the
should be granted to Peisistratus. It was in vain contract with Megacles; but not choosing to have
that Solon opposed this; the guard was granted. children by one of a family which was accounted
Through the neglect or connivance of the people accursed, treated his wife in the most odious
Peisistratus took this opportunity of raising a much manner. She complained to her mother of the inlarger force, with which he seized the citadel B. C. dignity to which she was exposed; and Megacles
560. (Plut. Sol. 30; Herod. i. 59; Aristot. Pol. and the Alcmaeonidae, incensed at the affront,
v. 10; Diog. Laeirt. i. 66; Polyaen. i. 21. ~ 3.) again made common cause with Lycurgus, and
A similar stratagem had been practised by Thea- Peisistratus was a second time compelled to evacuate
genes of Megara, and was afterwards imitated by Athens (Herod. i. 61). This time he left Attica,
Dionysius (Diod. xiii. 97). Megacles and the and retired to Eretria in Euboea. (The very exAlcmaeonidae took to flight. Solon, after another traordinary statement in Eusebius, Citron. Olymp.
ineffectual attempt to rouse the citizens against the 54. 3, and Hieronymus, that Peisistratus went
usurper, placed his arms in the street before his into Italy, is doubtless a blunder. Vater condoor, saying that he had done his utmost to defend jectures that the name Italy has been substituted
his country and its laws. Peisistratus, having by mistake for that of some place in Attica, perhaps
secured to himself the substance of power, made no Icaria, and that the statement refers to the first
further change in the constitution, or in the laws, exile of Peisistratus.) His property was again
which he administered ably and well. offered for sale (O'Kws EKI7r(eoL, Herod. vi. 121), and
The first usurpation of Peisistratus lasted but a again Callias, who had been one of his most active
short time (Herod. i. 60. /esa'Ts oir wohAJv Xpo'vov opponents, was the only purchaser.
-iltAa'vovfi Utv). Before his power was firmly On reaching Eretria Peisistratus deliberated
rooted, the factions headed by Megacles and Ly- with his sons as to the course he should pursue.
curgus combined, and Peisistratus was compelled The advice of Hippias, that he should make a
to evacuate Athens. As, on his second expulsion, fresh attempt to regain his power, was adopted.
we are distinctly told (Herod. i. 61) that he Contributions were solicited from the cities which
quitted Attica, the presumption is, that on the first were in his interest. Several furnished him with
occasion he did not. His property was confiscated large sums. Thebes especially surpassed all the
and sold by auction, when the only man who ven- rest in the amount of nloney which she placed at
tured to purchase it was Callias, the son of Hip- his disposal. With the funds thus raised he proponicus (Herod. vi. 121). How Peisistratus em- cured mercenaries from Argos. Ten years elapsed
ployed himself during his banishment, which lasted before his preparations were complete. At last,
about six years, we do not know. Meantime, the however, with the forces which he had raised, a
factions of Megacles and Lycurgus, having accom- Naxian named Lygdamis having also of his own
plished their immediate object, revived their old accord brought him both money and a body of
feuds, and Megacles, finding himself the weaker of troops, he crossed into Attica, and landed at Mathe two, made overtures to Peisistratus, offering to rathon. Here his friends and partisans flocked to
reinstate him in the tyranny, if he would connect his standard. His antagonists, who had viewed
himself with him by receiving his daughter Coe- his proceedings with great indifference, when they
syra (Suidas s. a. Y1eCKoletvpWof'iP-V) in marriage. heard that he was advancing upon Athens hastily
The proposal was accepted by Peisistratus, and the marched out to meet him. The two armies enfollowing stratagem was devised for accomplishing camped not far from each other, near the temple of
(as Herodotus supposes) his restoration. In what Athene at Pallene, and Peisistratus, seizing the
was afterwards the deme Paeonia, they found a opportunity with which the remissness of his antadamsel named Phya, of remarkable stature and gonists furnished him, and encouraged by the soothbeauty (according to Athenaeus xiii. p. 609, a gar- sayer Amphilytus of Acharnae, fell suddenly upon
land seller, the daughter of a man named Socrates). their forces at noon, when, not expecting any thing
This woman they dressed up as Athene in a full of the kind, the men had betaken themselves after
suit of armour, and placed in a chariot, with Peisi- their meal to sleep or play, and speedily put them
stratus by her side, instructing her how she was to to flight. He then, with equal wisdom and modemaintain a suitable carriage. The chariot was then ration, refrained from pursuing the fugitives with
driven towards the city, heralds being sent on his troops, but sent forward his sons on horseback,
before to announce that Athene in person was who, having overtaken the flying Athenians, told
bringing back Peisistratus to her Acropolis. The them they had nothing to fear if they would disreport spread rapidly, and those in the city be- perse quietly to their homes. The majority obeyed
lieving that the woman was really their tutelary these directions, and Peisistratus entered Athens
goddess, worshipped her, and admitted Peisistratus. without opposition (Herod. i. 61-63; Polyaen.
(Herod. i. 60; Polyaen. Strateg. i. 21. ~ 1, where Strat. i. 21. ~ 1. The account of the latter, howthere is a good deal of blundering). " This story," ever, is full of blunders). Lygdamis was rewarded
remarks Bishop Thirlwall (Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. for his zealous co-operation by being established as
p. 60), " would indeed be singular, if we consider tyrant of Naxos, which island Peisistratus conthe expedient in the light of a stratagem, on which quered. [LYGD.AMIS.]
the confederates relied for overcoming the resistance Having now become tyrant of Athens for the
which they might otherwise have expected from third time *, Peisistratus adopted measures to secure
their adversaries. But it seems quite as likely
that the pageant was only designed to add extra- * There is a good deal of difficulty with regard
ordinary solemnity to the entrance of Peisistratus, to the chronology of Peisistratus. The dates of
and to suggest the reflection, that it was by the his usurpation and death may be fixed with tole