Tyranny and Samos Flashcards
Herodotus on the tyranny of Samos
Book 3, Histories of Herodotus
Herodotus probably spent some time on Samos, and perhaps lived their, as he almost always shows the Samians in a good light, and shows a very detailed knowledge of Samos
Polycrates’ rise to power
“some local bloke is currently in charge of it after leading a revolt with fifteen hoplites”
Suggests he was welcomed
Possible that his father was tyrant before him, as Polycrates was not the first tryant of Samos
Once he gained power he was ruthless, he divided Samos into 3 parts, with him and his brothers taking one each. He then had one killed and the other exiled. He then allied himself with Amasis of Egypt
He was the first tyrant to create a large navy, and used it to extend his influence
Date Polycrates came to power
c. 535 BC
Polycrates’ army, Herodotus 3.39
150 triremes and 1000 archers
Who did Polycrates defeat?
All his campaigns were sucessful, making him famous
He concquered the islands Lesbos, Rhenea near Delos, and Miletus
What does Thucydides say Polycrates did with Rhenea
Dedicated it to the Delian Apollo
Delos
An island in the Aegean believed to have been the birthplace of Apollo; there was a sanctuary to the god there, and the island had great religious significance for all Greeks
Reasons for the accessions of tyrannies
Perhaps due to rise in wealth
In Samos there was good acces to trade
In both Athens and Samos tyrants needed the help of fellow tyrants to stay in power
Lygdamis of Naxos helped both Peisistratus and Polycrates in their attempts to gain power
However, it also comes down to local reasons, and it is hard to find an over arching reason for the sudden shift of power
Polycrates and Egypt
- Innitially he created a pact, sealed by the exchange of gifts, with Amasis
- By 525 Cambyses was Pharaoh of Egypt and the pact had finished sometime before
- According to Herodotus Amasis ended the alliance because Polycrates’ luck never ran out
- Reality, Polycrates probably ended it because he saw Persia was going to win against Amasis – he may indeed have been forced by Persia to abandon it
- After this, Polycrates is a servant of Persia and sends 40 triremes to aid in the conquest of Egypt
The 40 Triremes
Polycrates invited Cambyses to ask him to send a request for troops
Cambyses complied, asking for a fleet.
Polycrates picked out all the men he thought would rebel against his rule, put them in 40 triremes, and sent them to Cambyses with orders not to return them
Some stories say the Samians never reached Egypt, others that they did, escaped, and made their way back, defeating Polycrates’ fleet
They landed on the island and lost a battle. They then went to Sparta to ask for help.
Polycrates took the wives and children of those still loyal and put them in the boathouses with the threat that he would burn them if their husbands and brothers rebelled
Who allied with the Samian rebels?
Sparta and Corinth
Why did the Spartans claim they helped the rebels, why do the Samians say they helped
Polycrates had stolen a linen breastplate which Amasis had given them as a gift and a bowl the Spartans were transporting to Croesus
The Samians claimed it was returning a favour
Why did Corinth suppport the expedition against Samos?
Why did this influence Sparta’s decision?
A generation before, Periander had sent 300 Corcyran boys to Alyattes at Sardis to be made eunuchs. The Corinthians that were bringing the boys docked at Samos. The Samians ordered the boys to take sanctuary in the temple of Artemis. The Corinthians tried to starve the boys, but the Samians celebrated a festival throughout the boy’s stay at which it was the custom to bring cakes, which the boys then snatched and ate.
The Spartans were allies with Corinth so would join in against Corinth’s enemies
What does Herodotus’ story of Periander show us?
His opinion on another tyrant
He follows the the same pattern as other sources in being hostile to Periander
His story is a long digression, so is important to him
Also perhaps shows Athen’s and the rest of Greece’s opion on Periander
What is the story that Herodotus tells to give reason behind Periander sending the 300 boys to become eunuchs?
- Periander killed his wife
- His sons Lycophorn and Cypselus visit their maternal grandfather, Procles. When they leave he implies their father killed their mother
- Lycophoron refuses to speak to his father, and is eventually banished. He stays at a friend’s house, but Periander declares no one can house him or talk to him. He continues to refuse to speak, even when Periander tries to convince him to return and is eventually banished to Corcyra
- In his old age, Periander tries to persuade Lycophoron to take over the tyranny.
- Having failed, he sends his daughter in the hopes he will listen to her
- He agrees to a swap, where he goes to Corinth and his father goes to Corcyra.
- The Corcyrans, not wanting Periander, kill Lycophoron. In revenge, Periander sends 300 noble boys to become eunuchs
True causes for Sparta’s attack on Samos
Hard to tell which (if any) of the reasons were given at the time, and if they were, were they just pretexts.
Herodotus liked to give interesting, moral, stories, and to record every story without necessarily choosing one over the other
However, Herodotus claims the Dorians from Lacedaemonia had never sent an expedition to Asia
Perhaps it was because Polycrates was a servant of Persia, and that he was a greater threat than Persia due to how close he was to Greece.
Summarise Herodotus’ account of the Spartan siege of Samos
- Spartans marched to the wall and infiltrated the seaside tower on the outskirts of the city, from where Polycrates drove them back
- The defenders ruched out near the high tower on the ridge of the hill and held the Spartans back, before fleeing
- The Spartans pursued – if all had been like Archias and Lycopas, Sparta would have won. They entered the city with the fleeing enemy and were killed. The Samians honoured them with a state funeral
- After 40 days the Spartans left – a story claims that Polycrates bribed them, but Herodotus dismisses it
- The rebel Samians sailed off too
Herodotus’ account of Archias and Lycopas
Herodotus says they entered the city without support and were killed
Herodotus had met Archias son of Samius son of Archias who was killed at Samos. Archias recounted the story, explained that his father Samius was named after Samos where his father died, and that Archias had been given a state funeral by the Samians and that he subsequently honoured them
Summarise what happened to the Samian rebels after they left Samos the last time
They sailed. to Siphnos as they needed money. Siphnos was the richest island because of its gold and silver mines
The Siphnians had asked Delphi how long their wealth would last. The oracle gave them a befuddled reply
The Samians arrived and sent ambassadors to the city in one of their ships (painted red, made of wood, as the oracle prophesised). They were denied a loan.
The Samians began laying waste to the land, and defeated the Siphnians in battle, taking 100 talents
The Samians then captured teh island of Hydrea and put it under the control of men of Troezen
The Samians settled Cydonia in Crete, living there for 5 years and creating many temples. In the 6th year, vengeful Aeginetans beat them at sea and enslaved them all.
Message the oracle of Delphi allegedly told the Siphnians
“When the town hall of Siphnos turns white
And the market goes white-brown, then it needs a clever man indeed.
Beware a wooden attack, and a red herald.”
The town hall was made with Persian marble
All ships were painted red at this time
Aeginetan attack on Cydonia on Crete
Defeated the Samians in a naval battle and enslaved them all
Cutt of the ships’ boar head shaped prows and dedicated them to the temple of Athena in Aegina
The Aeginetans were acting on a grudge as when Amphicrates was king of Aegina the Samians and Amphicrates had engaged in naval combat with mutual losses
Wealth, prosperity, and revenge in Herodotus
- Siphnians at height of prosperity when Samians arrive. The fact they ask if it will last implies they do not believe it will (or at least that is what Herodotus thinks) It does not last, and likewise the Samians suffer the same punishment. The idea the gods are jealous and punish the successful is a theme Herodotus dwells on, along with many other Greek writers
- Herodotus clearly shows that the Aeginetans attack out of revenge. The theme is that all actions have consequences, and that negative actions will lead to revenge being taken. Another frequent Greek literary idea
Polycrates’ navy
Mentioned by Herodotus and Thucydides. Both writing during a time when Athens was the greatest naval power in Greece, therefore they portray the navy of Samos as being beneficial to the Samians and to all poleis that follow their example
Herodotus on Polycrates’ buildings
Herodotus uses them to justify the length of his disgressions about Samos
Three major structures:
- A tunnel that supplies water through a hill,
- A breakwater surrouneding the harbour,
- A temple built by Rhoecus
Water tunnel
- Dug through the base of a 900 foot high hill so as to supply fresh water to the town
- Channel 30 feet deep and 3 feet wide
- 4,200 feet long, 8 feet high and wide
- Dug from both ends using geometrical calculations
- Designed by Eupalinus a Megarian
- Survived to the modern day
Breakwater of Samos
- Ocean breakwater surrounding the harbour
- 120 foot deep foundations and over 1,200 feet long
- Separates the harbour into two parts, an internal and external harbour
- Ensured that warships were protected from strong winds
- Part of Polycreates’ plan to build his naval power
Temple of Hera
- Several temples to Hera had stood on the same site
- Replaced one which had been destroyed by fire
- First built by a Samian named Rhoecus
- Little remains besides a column, which is 20 metres tall. Gives a hint to the size of the original strucutre
- Approached by the Sacred Way, a paved road of marble lined with statues
Polycrates’ other achievements
Invited poets, artists, and engineers to settle on Samos
Archaeology suggests scultpure flourished, as did bronzework and wooden carvings
Encouraged trading with Egypt and Cyprus, probably mostly in olive oil
Oroetes
Dates: Second half of 6th century BC
Persian governor of Sardis
Mitrobates
Persian governor who insulted Oroetes by saying he was not a man as he had not conquered Samos
Reasons for Oroetes wanting to kill Polycrates (Herodotus)
- Oroetes and Mitrobates were talking, their talk turned to arguement. Mitrobates said that Oroetes was not a real man as he had Samos right on his door step and had not conquered it – and Samos was easy to conquer as a local bloke had taken over with 15 hoplites. Oroetes was insulted, but rather than attack Mitrobates, he decided to attack the context – Polycrates
- Oroetes sent a messenger to Samos. The messenger found Polycrates lying in the men’s quarters with Anacrean on Teos. Polycrates lay with his face to the wall and would not turn to the messenger as he spoke
Herodotus’ inclusion of bizzare reasons for Polycreates’ assassination
Trying to cover up real reason? – not subtle
Hints at the real reasons when he said he was the first Greek to want naval dominance, and had high hopes for controlling Ionia and the islands
Summarise the assassination of Polycrates (ignoring the reasons behind it)
- Oroetes sends a message to Polycreates telling him that if he transports Oroetes and his money he can get a portion of the money.
- Polycrates is in need of money for his expansive goals, and sends Maeandrius, son of Maeandrius to certify the wealth offered.
- Oroetes fills chests with stones and gold on the top.
- Maeandrius confrims the wealth
- Polycrates makes ready to leave, and goes despite his friends, diviners, and daughter telling him not to. She had a dream that he is in the air being washed by Zeus and annointed by Helios
- Polycrates arrives and is killed in a manner that Herodotus finds too repulsive to describe, he is then crucified
- The Samians that came with him are sent back, the rest are enslaved by Oroetes
Who does Herodotus mention to be among the followers of Oroetes
Democedes, son of Calliphon
Real reason behind the assassination given by Herodotus
Herodotus does not approve of the way Polycrates dies
He does not suggest that killing Polycrates was wrong
Using the story of Polycrates’ life and death to teach us something
Real reason behind the assassination
Herodotus hints the naval success of Polycrates may have been a factor in Persia’s desire to remove him
Persia may have got tired of Polycrates’ piracy on Ionian cities
As Persia grew she would want to limit anyone within her territory getting too powerful
Polycrates would have come under that catagory
But, if Polycrates knew the Persians were turning against him, why did he choose to visit Oroetes?
Perhaps he had enemies, most likely the aristocrats, at home and needed support
Maeandrius
Son of Maeandrius
Scribe of Polycrates
Polycrates left him in charge of Samos
Two brothers: Lycaretus and Charilaus
Maeandrius’ rule of Samos (Herodotus)
- Delegated the task by Polycrates
- Wanted to be just – impossible
- First he set up an alter to Zeus the Liberator, creating a sacred enclosure
- Assembled the citizens
- Told them he granted them their freedom to have a hand in power, on the grounds he got 6 talents and his family for ever more held position of priest to Zeus the Liberator
- A man declared he had no right to rule them and had better tell them exactly how he had spent his money
- He realised someone else would just claim power and withdrew to the Acropolis, sneding for each man individually as if to give him the accounts. He then threw them in prison
- He then fell ill, and his brother Lycaretus, thinking he would die, killed the prisoners so he could seize power more easily
Why did Darius conquer Samos?
Because when Cambyses invaded Egypt, a large number of Greeks were with the invading army - Herodotus, 3.139.
Who gave Darius a red cloack in Egypt?
A Greek tourist, Syloson, who had been exiled from Samos. At the time, Darius was an unimportant guard for Cambyses, who had invaded Egypt.
When Darius became king, what did Syloson, who had given him a red cloak for free, do?
Syloson travelled to Susa and waited to see the King. He explained that it was he who had given Darius the cloak. Darius offered him gold, but Syloson preferred to be given Samos. Darius agreed and prepared an army to head to Samos.- Herodotus
At the time that Syloson was asking Darius to allow Samos to be free, who was in charge of Samos and what was he like?
Maeandrius, son of Maeandrius. His power had been delegated by Polycrates.
Maeandrius wanted to be ‘the most just of all men’ - he set up an alter to Zeus after hearing of Polycrates’ death; he spoke to the people - “I shall not do anything which I would disapprove of another man doing … I invite you to take a share in what was (Polycrates’) power … I give you all freedom.” (Herodotus).
Did the Samians accept Maeandrius’ power and his liberating speech?
Telesarchus, a well-respected Samian, opposed Maeandrius calling him low-born and was sceptical of how Maeandrius had used Polycrates’ wealth. Maeandrius asked the ring leaders to visit him and he imprisoned them. Maeandrius became ill and his brother Lycaretus killed the rebels so he could seize power more easily.- Herodotus
How did the Samians act when the Persians returned with Syloson to Samos?
They accepted the Persian return and Maeandrius offered to leave the island as a truce. Darius’ agent, Otanes, agree, leaving high ranking Persians sitting seats facing the acropolis.- Herodotus
What did Maeandrius’ mad brother, Charilaus, encourage Maeadrius to do?
On being released from prison to speak to his brother, Charilaus cajoled Maeandrius to rise up and attack the Persians, or if he were scared, Charilaus would take the army and attack the Persians and allow Maeandrius safe passage off the island.- Herodotus
Did Maeandrius accept his brother Charilaus’ challenge to rise against the Persians and seek safety for himself?
Yes; Herodotus notes that Maeandrius wanted to weaken Samos to make it harder for Syloson’s recovery of the island’s freedom. Charilaus’s force of soldiers and mercenaries attacked the Persian garrison the Persian dignitaries until the Persian navy intervened.- Herodotus
What was the outcome of Charilaus’ uprising against the Persians on Samos?
Seeing the number of Persian dead, Darius’ general on the isle, Otanes, turned his troops against the civilians - men, women, and children. - Herodotus
