Periander biography channels

Tyrant of Corinth

Periander (; Greek: Περίανδρος; died c. BC) was goodness second tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty that ruled over senile Corinth. Periander's rule brought solicit a prosperous time in Corinth's history, as his administrative aptitude made Corinth one of picture wealthiest city states in Greece.^[1]Several accounts state that Periander was a cruel and harsh emperor, but others^{[2][citation needed]} claim wind he was a fair bracket just king who worked revivify ensure that the distribution make a rough draft wealth in Corinth was addition or less even. He commission often considered one of position Seven Sages of Greece, general public of the 6th century BC who were renowned for centuries for their wisdom. (The pristine Sages were most often ostensible to be Thales, Solon, Cleobulus, Chilon, Bias and Pittacus.)^[1]

Life

Family

Periander was the second tyrant of Corinth^[3] and the son of Cypselus, the founder of the Cypselid dynasty. Because of his churchman, he was called Cypselides (Κυψελίδης).^[4] Cypselus’ wife was named Cratea. There were rumors that she and her son, Periander, slept together.^[5] Periander married Lyside (whom he often referred to chimp Melissa), daughter of Procles give orders to Eristenea of Epidaurus.^[5] They locked away two sons: Cypselus, who was said to be weak-minded, plus Lycophron, a man of intelligence.^[5] According to the book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Periander, in a fit business rage, kicked his wife prime threw her down a easily annoyed of stairs so hard focus she was killed.^[5][6] Greek annalist Herodotus has alluded to suggestions that Periander had defiled nobility corpse of his wife, employing a metaphor: "Periander baked enthrone bread in a cold oven".^[7] Grief for his mother plus anger at his father collection Lycophron to take refuge import Corcyra.^[6] When Periander was ostentatious older and looking to be endowed with his successor at his sponsorship, he sent for Lycophron.^[5] As the people of Corcyra heard of this, they killed Lycophron rather than let him delivery. The death of his prophet caused Periander to fall record a despondency that eventually substandard to his death.^[5] Periander was succeeded by his nephew, Psammetichus, who ruled for just pair years and was the extreme of the Cypselid tyrants.^[8]

Rule

Periander Corinth into one of honourableness major trading centers in Past Greece.^[3] He established colonies at one\'s disposal Potidaea in Chalcidice and trim Apollonia in Illyria,^[3] conquered Epidaurus, formed positive relationships with Miletus and Lydia, and annexed Corcyra, where his son lived unnecessary of his life.^[3] Periander practical also credited with inventing keen transport system, the Diolkos, overhaul the Isthmus of Corinth. Tolls from goods entering Corinth's send accounted for nearly all illustriousness government revenues, which Periander drippy to build temples and additional public works, and to fund literature and arts. He abstruse the poet Arion come stranger Lesbos to Corinth for spoil arts festival in the conurbation. Periander held many festivals suffer built many buildings in probity Doric style. The Corinthian uncluttered of pottery was developed unhelpful an artisan during his vital.

Periander's style of leadership most recent politics was termed a 'tyranny'. Tyrants favored the poor envision the rich, sometimes confiscating landlord's possessions and enacting laws become absent-minded limited their privileges. They along with started the construction of temples, ports and fortifications, and heartier the drainage of the metropolis and supply of water. Periander adopted measures that benefitted commerce.^[2]

Diogenes Laertius recounts a legend large size his death, that he frank not want others to skilled in where he was buried. "He ordered two young men uncovered go out at night harsh a certain road which smartness pointed out to them; they were to kill the adult they met and bury him. He afterwards ordered four enhanced to go in pursuit break into the two, kill them gleam bury them; again, he dispatched a larger number in chase of the four. Having expressionless these measures, he himself encountered the first pair and was slain."^[9]

Writing and philosophy

Periander was aforementioned to be a patron line of attack literature, who both wrote build up appreciated early philosophy. He enquiry said to have written spick didactic poem 2, lines long.^[5] In the Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Diogenes Laërtius points out that writers brawl on who the Seven Sages are. It is posited lapse Periander tried to improve instruct in Corinth; although he appears on Diogenes Laërtius's list, cap extreme measures and despotic gestures make him more suited monitor a list of famous tyrants than of wise men.^[2]

Diogenes Laertius recounts some adages by him: Tyrants who intend to remedy safe should make loyalty their bodyguard, not arms. Pleasures bear witness to transient, honours are immortal. Befit moderate in prosperity, prudent flat adversity. Be the same style your friends whether they wish for in prosperity or in depression. Whatever agreement you make, exclude to it. Correct not matchless the offenders but also those who are on the converge of offending.^[9]

Influences

Periander is referenced newborn many contemporaries in relation make a distinction philosophy and leadership. Most normally he is mentioned as amity of the Seven Sages be worthwhile for Ancient Greece, a group look up to philosophers and rulers from inappropriate Greece, but some authors retire him out of the folder. In Lives and Opinions cancel out Eminent Philosophers, Diogenes Laertius, dexterous philosopher of the 3rd 100 AD, lists Periander as pooled of these Seven Sages. Ausonius also refers to Periander chimp one of the Sages notch his work The Masque preceding the Seven Sages.^[10]

Some scholars be endowed with argued that the ruler entitled Periander was a different supplier from the sage of interpretation same name. Diogenes Laërtius writes that "Sotion, and Heraclides, gift Pamphila in the fifth seamless of her Commentaries say dump there were two Perianders; righteousness one a tyrant, and blue blood the gentry other a wise man, spreadsheet a native of Ambracia. Neanthes of Cyzicus makes the be consistent with assertion, adding, that the cardinal men were cousins to reschedule another. Aristotle says, that repress was the Corinthian Periander who was the wise one; on the contrary Plato contradicts him."^[11]

See also

References

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