HUM 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Acropolis Of Athens, Periander, Pheidon Ii
Jeff Koo
Humanities 2
Culture of Ancient Greece
Fall 2019
4 units
● Dating
○ “High Dates” by Eusebius/Jerome
■ Earlier dates
■ Consistent with Nicolaus of Damascus (Also a later author)
○ “Low Dates” by Herodotus
■ Later dates
■ Favored because Herodotus is closer to dates by 6-700 years
■ Periander’s reputation as one of the seven sages, which were more
contemporary (may have dated him down)
○ Aristotle gives us numbers of years
■ Aristotle’s total does not equate to addition of years
■ Maybe transmission
■ If 44 40.5, then it equates
○ Herodotus puts Periander one generation before famous person
● Theagenes of Megara
○ Active in 2nd half of 7th century
○ Megara is neighbors with Corinth (Poor relationship)
○ Corinth is significantly more powerful and wealthy
○ Aristotle Story (Theagenes rise to power)
■ Slaughtered herds of the wealthy
■ Established himself as tyrant
○ Daughter was married to Athenian nobleman named Cylon who won at the
Olympic games
■ Cylon decides he wants to imitate father-in-law, and storms Athenian
acropolis with Megaran forces
■ Theagenes ousted from tyranny as a by product
● Why Tyranny?
○ Pre-Dorian Theory
■ Proposed in early 20th century by HT Wade Gerry
■ Tyrants rose up as champions of non-Dorian people on Peloponnese
against dominant Dorians
■ Pros
● Long and colorful career of Cleisthenes of Sicyon
● Pheidon of Argos – Interference in Olympic games
○ Rivalry between Elis and Pisa (Did not run games even
though closer)
○ Dorians vs. Non-Dorians for control of games
○ Rose up against Dorians on side of Pisa
■ Cons
Document Summary
Consistent with nicolaus of damascus (also a later author) Favored because herodotus is closer to dates by 6-700 years. Periander"s reputation as one of the seven sages, which were more contemporary (may have dated him down) Aristotle"s total does not equate to addition of years. If 44 40. 5, then it equates. Herodotus puts periander one generation before famous person. Active in 2nd half of 7th century. Megara is neighbors with corinth (poor relationship) Corinth is significantly more powerful and wealthy. Daughter was married to athenian nobleman named cylon who won at the. Cylon decides he wants to imitate father-in-law, and storms athenian. Theagenes ousted from tyranny as a by product. Proposed in early 20th century by ht wade gerry. Tyrants rose up as champions of non-dorian people on peloponnese against dominant dorians. Long and colorful career of cleisthenes of sicyon. Pheidon of argos interference in olympic games though closer) Rivalry between elis and pisa (did not run games even.
