Kynaigeiros
Kynaigeiros ( Greek Κυναίγειρος or Κυνέγειρος , Latinized Cynaegeirus , † 490 BC ) was a member of the ancient Attic noble family of the Eupatrids and brother of the tragedy poet Aeschylus .
Kynaigeiros, the son of Euphorion of Eleusis , took with his brother Aeschylus in 490 BC. Chr. As a soldier at the Battle of Marathon against the invading army of the Persian king Darius I in part. Despite the numerical superiority of the Persians , they were defeated and fled back to their ships. They were pursued by the Athenians, and Kynaigeiros was killed by the chopping off of that hand while attempting to grasp a Persian ship with his bare hand.
His death has been described as a landmark of cultural memory in ancient Greece and also in literature to inflame patriotic feelings for future generations. Polygnotos has Kynaigeiros' death in the painting of the Battle of Marathon in the Stoa Poikile in Athens around 460 BC. Depicted.
His death was exaggerated in detail by the Roman historian Justinus : In his attempt to grab the enemy ship, Kynaigeiros first lost his right hand. Then he took the ship in his left hand. After losing both hands, he tried to grab it with his teeth and even in its maimed state he fought desperately to the death.
literature
- J. Miller: Kynaigeiros. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XI, 2, Stuttgart 1922, Sp. 2479. (online)
- Elke Stein-Hölkeskamp : Kynaigeiros. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 6, Metzler, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-476-01476-2 , Sp. 968.
Remarks
- ↑ Herodotus , Historien 6, 114 ( English translation ).
- ^ Ailianos , De natura animalium 7, 38.
- ↑ Justinus 2, 9, 16ff.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kynaigeiros |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Cynaegeirus; Κυναίγειρος, Κυνέγειρος (Greek) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Greek hero of Athens and brother of the tragedy poet Aeschylus |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 6th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 490 BC Chr. |