Megakles (father of Kleisthenes)

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Megakles ( Greek  Μεγακλῆς ), a son of Alkmaion and grandson of the archon Megakles , was one of the most prominent members of the Alkmaionid family in Athens in the 6th century BC. Chr.

He led, together with Lykurg , around the year 560 BC The coastal population of Athens in the conflict with the tyrant Peisistratos , whom they were initially able to drive out of Athens together. Soon afterwards, however, Megakles separated from Lycurgus and became an ally of Peisistratos, to whom he gave his daughter for marriage. According to Herodotus' report, he supported Peisistratos in his return to Athens by calling a woman who Peisistratos had been led in front of him on a chariot as Athena , the city's patron goddess. But Megakles soon alienated himself with Peisistratos too, so that he reunited with Lycurgus and sent Peisistratos into exile in Euboea . After another eleven years, Peisistratos returned again and was finally able to assert himself and establish his tyranny. Megakles for his part was now exiled; his further fate is unclear.

Megakles had been around since about 575 BC. Married to Agariste , daughter of the tyrant Kleisthenes of Sikyon . Megakles' son Kleisthenes was named after him, the later reformer who introduced democracy in Athens. Another son of Megacles was the statesman Hippocrates , grandfather of Pericles through his daughter Agariste .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Herodotus, Histories 1, 60.
  2. ↑ Herodotus, Historien 6, 125.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Megacles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Athenian statesman
DATE OF BIRTH 6th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 6th century BC Chr.