The Pattern of Greek Tyranny

1. The Pattern of Greek Tyranny Power-hungry dictators or liberators of the people? 670-500

2. Review of spartan organization • Remember that Herodotus said that before 600 the Spartans were “the worst ruled of nearly all the Greeks.” Isolation, internal bickering, and xenophobia. • But the Spartans had a profound and unique institutional development, and improvement came when eunomia, “obedience to the law,” was achieved. • The Spartan “constitution” had four parts: • The Kings • The Gerousia, or council of elders • The Apella, or assembly of citizens • The five Ephors

3. Sparta’s annual proclamation • Each year the ephors’ term of office began on the day of the first full moon after the autumnal equinox. • Each year the new ephors renewed the same proclamation: • All Spartans must shave their upper lips. • All Spartans must obey the laws. • War is hereby declared upon the helots We’ll return to the Spartans later, and discuss (among other things) their social lives.

4. The Coming of Greek Tyranny • Calling a ruler a “tyrant” means that he attained power in a way that was not according to the understood rules of accession. It originally did not refer to the idea that their rule was abusive. • Later Greeks considered the seventh and sixth centuries to be the age of the tyrants. There were many tyrants during this period, though firsthand documents are scarce. • Aristocracies that dominated after the collapse of monarchies fueled rather than relieved economic disparity, exploitation of farm workers and debtors, and grievances of the non-aristocratic wealthy. • Imagine a time before absolute rulers and dictators—bad associations with the term “tyrant” would be an historical afterthought, perhaps even provided by descendents of the snubbed aristocrats.

5. Characteristics of Tyrannies • Many consider the age of tyrants to be a progressive one: • They seemed to be effective at increasing trade and industry. • They promoted cultural and infrastructure development. • They had popular appeal, perhaps actually bringing more voices to participation in the polis. • Most tyrants arose from aristocratic families. • They either showed savvy in cultivating the interests of common people or held a grudge against rival aristocrats and enlisted the help of the less privileged. • Most tyrannies attempted to perpetuate themselves, but petered out within two or three generations. • Tyrannies were either strong-arm coups or introduced by invitation to quell civil disturbance and stasis.

6. A paradigmatic tyrant • Periander of Corinth ruled for forty years, 627-585. • He was a patron of the arts, even supporting Aesop. • He built the Dioclos, a tremendous feat of engineering that rolled ships overland across the isthmus of Corinth. He had originally planned a canal, but supposedly was warned against it by the Oracle of Delphi. • He constructed new public buildings and is said to have tried to limit slavery to reduce the free time of the aristocratic citizens, thus preventing a plot against his rule. • His rule was eventually destroyed by intrigue surrounding his family, and barely survived his death. • He was a tyrant, but he was also considered one of the fabled “Seven Sages of Greece,” a Delphic tradition honoring men who gave practical wisdom.

7. Wisdom of periander from delphi • Live according to your income. • Nothing is impossible to industry. • However exalted our position, we should still not despise the powers of the humble. • Your knowing a thing is nothing, unless another knows you know it. • He who has once made himself notorious as utterly unprincipled, is not credited even when he speaks the truth. • He who trusts himself for safety to the care of a wicked man, in seeking succor meets with ruin. • The mind still longs for what it has missed, and loses itself in the contemplation of the past. • It is a pleasant thing to be pointed at with the finger, and to hear it said, "That is he." • His bloated paunch stands forth projecting a good eighteen inches.

8. Tyrants couldn’t act alone • Tyrants of other cities helped with money or arms. • Mercenary forces could back a potential tyrant. • Sometimes, disaffected circles of aristocrats were willing to give up the chance for restored levels of power to gain revenge on rivals. • Almost all had support of the free non-aristocratic citizens, especially the hoplite class.

9. What tyrants accomplished • Tyrants made their careers by favoring the poor over the rich. • They usually were able to eliminate red tape that prevented economic progress. • They loved to promote the arts, culture, and popular religion. • They often preserved traditional laws and expanded rights to break the power of the wealthiest families.

10. The Age of Tyrants passes • Tyranny died out by 500. • Many of the reasons for stasis in the seventh and sixth centuries faded by then. • Tyranny or the threat of tyranny may have “tamed” the volatile aristocratic rivalries. • A taste of expanded powers for non-aristocrats over several generations may have prevented a return to the “good old days” for the aristocrats. • Let’s see how this pattern of Greek tyranny affected the development of Athenian democracy.