PISIVIRATUS (Gr. Peisistratos), a famous " tyrant" of Athens, belonged to a family of Attica, which claimed descent from Pyliau Nestor, and was b. towards the close of the 7th c. B.C.—certainly not later than 612. His father's name was Hippocrates, and through his mother he was pretty closely related to the great lawgiver, Solon, between whom and Pisistratus a very intimate friendship long existed. He received an excellent education; and the charm of his manners, as well as the generosity of his spirit, was so great that (according to Solon) had he not been ambitious, he would have been the best of Athenians: but his passion for the exercise of sovereign power led him to adopt a policy of artifice and dissimulation, for the purpose of attaining his ends, which prevents us from regarding him with the admiration that the beneficent character of his govern ment might seem to demand. At first, Pisistratus co-operated with his kinsman Solon, and in the war against the Megarians, acquired considerable military distinction; but afterwards, when probably his ambitious views had become more matured, he came for ward as the leader of one of the three parties into which Attica was then divided. These were. the Peditei(party of the plain), or the landed proprietors; theParati(party of the sea board). or wealthy merchant classes; and the Diac-rii (party of the Highlands), chiefly a laboring population, jealous of the rich, and eager for equality of political privileges. It was to the last of these that Pisistratus attached himself; but indeed he assiduously cultivated the good-will of all the poorer citizens, to whom he showed himself a most liberal benefactor. At last Pisistratns took a decided step. Driving into the market place of Athens one day, and exhibiting certain self-inflicted wounds, he called upon the people to protect him against his and their enemies, alleging that he had been attacked on account of his patriotism. Solon, who was present, accused him of hypoc risy; but the crowd were, according to Plutarch, ready to take up arms for their favorite: and a general assembly of the citizens being summoned, Ariston„ one of Pisistratus's partisans, proposed to allow him a bodyguard of fifty men. The measure was carried in spite of the strenuous opposition of Solon. Gradually Pisistratus increased the num ber, and in 560 mc., when he felt himself strong enough, seized the Acropolis. The citizens, in general, seem to have tacitly sanctioned this high-handed act. They were sick of the anarchic broils of the different factions, and probably glad to see their cham pion and favorite usurp supreme authority. Megaeles and the Alcmmonids—the heads of the rich aristocratic party—immediately fled from the city. Solon, who loved neither oligarchic arrogance nor military despotism, but was a thorough constitutionalist, tried, but in vain, to rouse the Athenians against Pisistratus. Pisistratus, who was not at all vindictive in his disposition, did not attempt to molest Solon; he even maintained the legislation of the latter almost intact, and distinguished himself chiefly by the vigor of his administration. Pisistratus himself did not enjoy his first "tyranny" long. The
Pedki and the Parali rallied under Lycurgus and Megacles, united their forces, and overthrew the usurper, who was forced to go into exile. But the coalition of the two factions was soon broken up. Megacles hereupon made overtures to Pisistratus, invit ing him to resume his tyranny, which he did; but a family quarrel with Megakles induced the latter to again ally himself with Lycurgus, and Pisistratus was driven from Attica. He retired toEubcea, where lie remained for ten years, ever keeping an eye, however, on Athens, and making preparations for a forcible return. How he managed to acquire so much influence while only a banished man is difficult to ascertain; but certain it is that many Greek cities, particularly Thebes and Argos, placed the greatest confidence in him, and finally supplied him abundantly with money and troops. Pisis tratus at length sailed from Eubcea, landed in Attica at Marathon, and marched on the capital. His partisans hurried to swell his ranks. At Pallene he encountered his opponents, and completely defeated them, but used his victory with admirable modera tion. When he entered the city no further resistance was made, and he resumed the sover eignty at once. The date of this event, as of most others in the life of Pisistratus, is very uncertain; perhaps we shall not err far if we place it about 543 B.C. He lived for sixteen years afterwards in undisturbed possession of power, dying 527 B.C., and trans mitting his supremacy to his sons, Hippias and Hipparchus, known as the Pisistratidte.
rule was mild and beneficent. Although the precautionary measures that he adopted to establish his authority involved at first a certain resolute and stringent policy (e.g., the seizure of the children of his leading opponents, and the detaining them as hostages); yet no sooner had he placed himself out of danger, than he began to display that wonderful tact, moderation, kindliness, and sympathetic appreciation of the wishes of the Athenians, that have won him the praise and esteem of all later ages, in spite of his usurpation. He firmly, but not harshly, enforced obedience to the laws of Solon; emptied the city of its poorest citizens, and made them agriculturists, supplying such as had no resources with cattle and seed; secured provision for old and disabled soldiers; bestowed great taro on the celebration of the religious festivals of the Attica-us, and even introduced some important changes; encouraged literature more than any Athenian had ever done before —it is to Pisistratus, or to the poets, scholars, and priests about him, that we owe, for example, the first complete edition of Homer (q.v.); and, like his still more brilliant suc cessor in the following century, Pericles, he adorned Athens with many beautiful build ings, such as the Lyceum, a temple to the Pythian Apollo, another to Olympian Zeus, etc.