Periander

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Periander (ΠΕΡΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΚΥΨΕΛΟΥ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΣ ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΠÃΝ - Periander Kypselos' [son] Corinthians - Think everything)

Periander ( ancient Greek Περίανδρος (τοῦ Κυψέλου) ὁ Κορίνθιος - Periander ( son of Kypselus ) the Corinthians; Latin Periander ; † 583 BC) was around since 628 BC. BC tyrant of Corinth . He was one of the seven wise men , but was later replaced by Myson from Chenai. He was the son of Kypselus and Kratea.

The tyrant

Periander was considered the prototype of the tyrant , tough but farsighted. Under his rule, Corinth flourished economically and culturally. He allegedly planned the Corinth Canal, created a strong fleet and ensured Corinth's greatest reputation in antiquity through extensive trade and military successes (conquest of Epidaurus , Korkyra ). His legislative successes included the allotment of land to poor peasants, job creation schemes, luxury laws and the prohibition of slave acquisition. In the dispute between Mytilene and Athens over Sigeion , Periander was appointed as judge. He decided the dispute in Athens' favor.

In Periander's time, Arion is said to have arrived in Corinth from Lesbos and lived at his court for a while.

The Council of Thrasybulus

In the fifth book of his histories , Herodotus reports that shortly after he had ascended the throne in Corinth, Thrasybulus of Miletus asked a more experienced tyrant for advice on how best to stay in power. While the Periander's messenger brought his request to him, the latter is said to have walked across a wheat field and tore up the ears of wheat that protruded from the crowd. Otherwise the ambassador received no answer. When he returned to Corinth, he reported to his master what he thought was a fruitless meeting with the ruler of Miletus. But Periander understood the message and had all the outstanding personalities in the area he ruled murdered.

The transformation

At first, Periander is said to have been a peaceful ruler. Parthenius of Nicaea reports that his mother Kratea fell in love with him and sneaked up to him at night in the dark, seduced him and disappeared again before sunrise. So Periander's identity was hidden for a while. One day, when his mother lay down with him again, he lit a lamp and discovered that his mother was his lover. At first he wanted to kill her, but gave up on his plan. But since then he has turned into a violent and cruel ruler.

The family

Periander married Lyside ("Melissa"), the daughter of Prokles , the tyrant of Epidaurus . With her he fathered two sons, Kypselus and Lycophron , and a daughter. Periander accidentally kicked his pregnant wife, but did not let his children know. When his sons visited Prokles, he revealed Periander's secret. When the sons returned, Lycophron, the younger of the two, wanted nothing more to do with his father, he withdrew and finally went to Korkyra. Because of the treason, Periander went against Epidaurus, conquered it and took Prokles prisoner.

When Periander was old, he wanted to hand over the government to his son Lycophron. He sent his daughter to him to persuade him to return to Corinth. But he did not want to live in a city with his father, which is why Periander suggested that he go to Korkyra if Lycophron took over the business of government in Corinth. Now he agreed, but before he could leave, he was killed by the Corkyrians who wanted to prevent the violent Periander from coming to their island.

In revenge for this, Periander had 300 sons of distinguished Corkyrs brought to Alyattes II in Sardis to have them castrated there. However, when they landed on Samos , the Samians freed them and thus escaped this punishment.

Gnomes

The following gnomes have come down to us from Periander (translation by Bruno Snell ):

Periander, son of Cypselus, from Corinth said ( Περίανδρος Κυψέλου Κορίνθιος ἔφη ):

01. Have the whole thing in mind. Μελέτη τὸ πᾶν.
02. Quiet is nice. Καλὸν ἡσυχία.
03. Being hasty is dangerous.
06. Democracy is better than tyranny. Δημοκρατία κρεῖττον τυραννίδος.
07. The lusts are fleeting, the virtues immortal. Αἱ μὲν ἡδοναὶ θνηταί, αἱ δ᾿ ἀρεταὶ ἀθάνατοι.
08. Be moderate in happiness, be prudent in unhappiness. Εὐτυχῶν μὲν μέτριος ἴσθι, ἀτυχῶν δὲ φρόνιμος.
10. Show yourself worthy of your parents.
11. Seek praise for life, price for death. Ζῶν μὲν ἐπαινοῦ, ἀποθανὼν δὲ μακαρίζου.
12. Be the same to your friends in their happiness and unhappiness. Φίλοις εὐτυχοῦσι καὶ ἀτυχοῦσιν ὁ αὐτὸς ἴσθι.
14. Don't share secrets. Λόγων ἀποῤῥήτων ἐκφορὰν μὴ ποιοῦ.
15. Scold so that you can quickly become friends again. Λοιδοροῦ ὡς ταχὺ φίλος ἐσόμενος.
16. Keep to old laws, but to fresh food. Τοῖς μὲν νόμοις παλαιοῖς χρῶ, τοῖς δ᾿ ὄψοις προσφάτοις.

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literature

Web links

Wikiquote: Periander of Corinth  - Quotes
Commons : Periandros  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ Bruno Snell : Lives and Opinions of the Seven Wise Men. Greek and Latin sources. Heimeran, Munich 1952, p. 107 f.
predecessor Office successor
Kypselus Ruler of Corinth
627 / 6–585 / 4 BC Chr. 		Psammetich
personal data
SURNAME Periander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Periandros
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Tyrant of Corinth
DATE OF BIRTH 7th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 583 BC Chr.