514 BC - 514 BC Deaths, Harmodius and Aristogeiton, Hipparchus, Aristogeiton the Tyrannicide (Paperback)

Chapters: 514 Bc Deaths, Harmodius and Aristogeiton, Hipparchus, Aristogeiton the Tyrannicide. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 26. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Harmodius ( / Harmdios) and Aristogeiton ( / Aristogetn), both d. 514 BC in ancient Athens. They became known as the Tyrannicides () after they killed the Peisistratid tyrant Hipparchus, and were the preeminent symbol of democracy to ancient Athenians. The principal historical sources covering the two are Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War (VI, 56-59) and The Constitution of the Athenians (XVIII) attributed to Aristotle or his school, but their story is documented by a great many other ancient writers. Peisistratus seized power in 561 BC and established a dictatorial regime. Peisistratus is usually called a tyrant, but the Greek word tyrannos does not mean a cruel and despotic ruler, merely one who took power by force. Peisistratus was in fact a very popular ruler, who made Athens wealthy and powerful, although the old aristocratic families he had driven from power hated him. When Peisistratus died in 528/527 BC, his son Hippias, with the help of his younger brother Hipparchus, retained power. The two continued their father's policies, but their popularity declined after Hipparchus began to abuse the power of his position. Hipparchus invited Harmodius' young sister to be the kanephoros (to carry the ceremonial offering basket) at the Panathenaea festival, and then publicly chasing her away on the pretext she was not a virgin, as required. This was an offense of such magnitude to Harmodius' family that he, together with Aristogeiton who was already fired by feelings of jealousy due to Hipparchus having made unrequited sexual advances toward Harmodius (possibly the motivation for Hipparchus's humiliatio...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=455908