List of ancient Greek tyrants explained

This is a list of tyrants from Ancient Greece.

Abydus

• Daphnis, c. 500 BC under Darius I (pro persian)^[1]
• Philiscus, c. 368-360 BC (assassinated)
• Iphiades, 360-? BC^[2]

Agrigentum (Acragas)

• Phalaris, 570-554 BC (overthrown and roasted)
• Telemachus, after 554 BC
• Alcamenes, 6th/5th century BC^[3]
• Alcandros (Alcander), 6th/5th century BC^[3]
• Theron, 488-472 BC
• Thrasydaeus, 472 BC (expelled and executed)
• Phintias, c. 288-279 BC
• Sosistratus, 279-277 BC. Later tyrant in Syracuse^[4]

Alabanda

• Aridolis, 480 BC
• Amyntas, after 480 BC

Ambracia

• Gorgus, son of Cypselus, fl. 628-600 BC
• Periander, until 580 BC, son of Gorgus and grandson of Periander of Corinth
• Archinus, 6th century BC ^[5]

Amastris

• Amastris, until 284 BC
• Eumenes, 284 until c. 270 BC (hands city over to Kingdom of Pontus)^[6]

Argos

• Laphaes, 6th century BC ^[7]
• Pheidon, around 550 BC
• Perilaus, c. 546 BC
• Archinus, c. 395 BC
• Aristippus the Elder, after 272 BC
• Aristomachos the Elder, before 250-240 BC (assassinated)
• Aristippus, 240-235 BC (killed in action)
• Aristomachus the Younger, 235-229 BC (resigned), 224-223 BC (tortured and executed)

Assos & Atarneus

• Eubulus, before 351 BC
• Hermias, 351-342 BC

Astacus

• Evarchus, c. 430-420 BC^[8]

Athens

• Cylon, 632 BC (stoned)
• Pisistratus, 561 BC, 559-556 BC and 546-528 BC
• Hippias, 527-510 BC
• Theramenes, Critias, and Charicles leading members of the Thirty Tyrants 404-403 BC
• Lachares, 300-294 BC
• Aristion, 88-86 BC (executed)

Byzantium

• Ariston, c. 513 BC, pro persian, participated in the Scythian campaign of Darius I^[1]
• Clearchus of Sparta, 411-409 BC, 404-401 BC

Cardia

• Hecataeus, fl. 323 BC ^[9]

Camarina

• Psaumis of Camarina, fl. c. 460 BC

Cassandreia

• Apollodorus, 279-276 BC (executed)

Catane

• Euarchus, 729 BC-?, founder of Catane^[10]
• Deinomenes the Younger, fl. 470-465 BC
• Mamercus of Catane, 345-338 BC

Chalcis (Euboea)

• Tynnondas, c. 580 BC ^[11]
• Antileon, 6th century BC
• Mnesarchus, before 354 BC
• Callias, c. 354-350 BC, c. 343-330 BC
• Taurosthenes, c. 330 BC

Chersonese

• Miltiades the Elder, 555-519 BC
• Stesagoras, 519-516 BC (assassinated)
• Miltiades, 516-510 BC, 496-492 BC

Chios

• Strattis, fl. 513-480 BC

Cibyra

• Moagetes, fl. 190 BC ^[12]

Corcyra

• Lycophron (?), before 587 BC
• Cleonymus, 303/02 BC

Corinth

• Cypselus, 657-627 BC
• Periander, 627-587 BC
• Psammetich (Psammetichus, named after Psamtik I), 587-584 BC ^[13]
• Timophanes, 364 BC (assassinated)
• Alexander, 253-247 BC (poisoned?)
• Nicaea, 247-245 BC (married)

Cos

• Scythes, late 6th century BC
• Cadmus, resigned 494 BC
• Nicias of Cos, 1st century BC
• Nicippus, 1st century (with Nicias)

Croton

• Cylonius, c. 530 BC
• Cleinias, c. 504-495 BC
• Menedemus, until 295 BC (conquered and)

Cumae

• Aristodemus, c. 505-490 BC

Cyme

• Aristagoras, fl. 513-493 BC

Cyprus

• Nicocreon, 4th century BC

Cyrene

• Ophellas, 312-308 BC
• Lycopus, c. 163 BC
• Nicocrates, c. 51 BC (assassinated)
• Leander, c. 50 BC (arrested)

Cyzicus

• Aristagoras, c. 513 BC ^[14]

Dardanos

• Mania, killed by her son-in-law c. 399 BC

Elatea

• Mnason, 4th century BC

Elea

• Demylus, 5th century BC
• Nearchus, c. 430 BC

Elis

• Aristotimus, 272 BC (assassinated)

Ephesus

• Athenagoras, 6th century BC
• Pythagoras, 6th century BC
• Pindarus, around 560 BC
• Aristarchus, around 545-540 BC
• Pasicles, 540-530 BC, killed when returning from a feast.
• Aphinagorus, fl. 530 BC
• Comas, fl. 530 BC
• Phanes
• Melancomas, around 500 BC
• Hegesias, 4th century BC
• Syrpax, until 334 BC (stoned)
• Melancomas II, fl. 214 BC

Epidaurus

• Procles, 640 BC

Eretria

• Themison, fl. 366 BC
• Plutarch, c. 355-350 BC (expelled)
• Hipparchus, c. 345 BC
• Automedon, c. 345 BC
• Cleitarchus, 345-341 BC (expelled)

Gela

• Cleander, 505-498 BC (assassinated)
• Hippocrates, 498-491 BC
• Gelon, 491-485 BC
• Hieron I, 485-466 BC
• Polyzalus, fl. c. 476 BC

Halicarnassus

• Artemisia I of Caria, fl. 480 BC
• Lygdamis II of Halicarnassus, fl. 469-444 BC

Heraclea Pontica

• Clearchus, 365-353 BC (assassinated)
• Satyrus, 353-? BC
• Timotheus, 352-337 BC
• Dionysius, 337-305 BC
• Amastris, 305-284 BC (drowned by her sons)
• Oxyathres, 305-284 BC
• Clearchus, 305-284 BC

Hermione

• Xenon, stepped down 229 BC

Himera

• Terillus, early 5th century BC

Keryneia

• Iseas, 275 BC (resigned)

Lampsacus

• Hippoclus, c. 513 BC
• Aeantides, fl. 515-510 BC
• Astyanax, before 360 BC, assassinated

Larissa

• Medius, fl. 395 BC

Leontini

• Panaetius, c. 615/609 BC
• Aenesidemus, 498-491 BC
• Hicetas, c. 347-338 BC
• Heracleides, fl. 278 BC

Lindos

• Cleobulus, 6th century BC

Locri

• Dionysius the Younger, 356-346 BC

Megalopolis

• Aristodemus the Good, c. 262-252 BC (assassinated by the "philosopher tyrannicides" Ecdemus and Damophanes)
• Lydiadas, c. 245-235 BC (joined the Achaean League)

Megara

• Theagenes, c. 620-600 BC

Messana

• Scythes, c. 494 BC
• Cadmus, c. 494-490 BC
• Anaxilas, c. 490-476 BC
• Micythus, c. 476-467 BC (retired)
• Leophron, c. 467-461 BC (popular revolt)
• Hippon, c. 338 BC
• Cios the Mamertine, c. 269 BC

Messene

• Phyliades, before 336 BC (?)

Methymnae

• Aristonicus, before 332 BC (tortured and executed)

Miletus

• Amphitres, late 8th or 7th century BC
• Thrasybulus, 7th century BC
• Thoas, 6th century BC
• Damasanor, 6th century BC
• Histiaeus, 518-514 BC
• Aristagoras, c. 513-499 BC (reintroduced democracy)
• Timarchus, 3rd century BC

Mytilene

• Melandrus, late 7th century BC
• Myrsilus, late 7th century BC, (Alcaeus was against him)
• Pittacus, fl. 600 BC (resigned after ten years)
• Coes, c. 507-499 BC (stoned)

Naxos

• Lygdamis, until c. 512 BC
• Aristagoras, c. 502-499 BC

Orchomenus

• Aristomelidas, Archaic period (?)
• Nearchus, 234 BC (resigned)

Oreus

• Philistides, c. 341 BC (expelled)
• Menippus, c. 341 BC (expelled)

Parium

• Herophantus, c. 513 BC

Pellene

• Chaeron, after 336 BC

Pharsalus

• Sisyphus, fl. 395 BC
• Polydamas, until 370 BC

Pherae

• Lycophron
• Jason, before 370 BC (assassinated)
• Polydorus, 370 BC (assassinated)
• Polyphron, 370-369 BC (assassinated)
• Alexander, 369-358 BC (assassinated)
• Tisiphonus, 357-355/4 BC
• Lycophron II, 355-352 BC (resigned)
• Peitholaus, 355-352 and 349 BC (resigned, expelled)

Phlius

• Leo, c. 540 BC
• Cleonymus, before 229 BC (resigned)

Phocaea

• Laodamas, c. 513 BC

Phocis

• Aulis, fl. c. 520 BC
• Phayllus, fl. 352 BC

Pisa

• Damophon, before 7th century BC (?)
• Pantaleon, fl. 660-644 BC
• Damophon, fl. 588 BC
• Pyrrhus, 6th century BC

Priene

• Hieron of Priene, 300-297 BC

Proconnesus

• Metrodorus, c. 513 BC

Rhegium

• Anaxilas, 494-476 BC
• Micythus, c. 476-467 BC (retired)
• Leophron, c. 467-461 BC (popular revolt)
• Dionysius the Younger, before 352 BC (expelled)
• Calippus, 352/351 BC (assassinated)
• Leptines II, after 351 BC
• Decius Vibellius, 280-270 BC (conquered)

Samos

• Demoteles, 7th century BC^[15]
• Syloson, c. 538 BC
• Polycrates, c. 538-522 BC
• Maiandrius, c. 522 BC (reintroduced democracy)
• Charilaus, c. 522 BC
• Syloson, again c. 521 BC
• Aeaces, around 513 BC, reinstalled after 494 BC
• Theomestor, after 480 BC^[16]
• Duris, c. 280 BC

Selinus

• Theron, 6th/5th century BC
• Pythagoras, 6th/5th century BC
• Euryleon of Sparta, 6th/5th century BC (killed)

Sicyon

• Orthagoras, from 676 BC
• Myron the Elder, fl. 648 BC, former Olympian winning in chariot race^[17]
• Myron the Younger?
• Aristonymus,father of Cleisthenes
• Isodemus^[18]
• Cleisthenes, 600-560 BC
• Aeschines, 560-556 BC removed by the Spartans
• Euphron, 368-366 BC (assassinated)
• Aristratus, fl. c. 340 BC
• Epichares (?), fl. c. 330 BC
• Cratesipolis, 314-308 BC (bribed)
• Cleon, c. 300-280 BC (assassinated)
• Euthydemus, c. 280-270 BC (expelled)
• Timocleidas, c. 280-270 BC (expelled)
• Abantidas, 264-252 BC (assassinated)
• Paseas, 252-251 BC (assassinated)
• Nicocles, 251 BC (expelled by Aratus of Sicyon)

Sigeum

• Hegesistratus, fl. 510 BC^[19]

Sinope

• Timesilaus, before 433 BC^[20]
• Scydrothemis, 301-280 BC

Sparta

• Machanidas, 210-207 BC (killed in action)
• Nabis, 207-192 BC (assassinated by allies)
• Chaeron, 180 BC

Sybaris

• Telys, c. 510 BC

Syracuse

• Gelon, 491-478 BC
• Hieron I, 478-466 BC
• Thrasybulus, 466-465 BC (expelled, democracy restored)
• Dionysius the Elder, 405-367 BC
• Dionysius II, the Younger, 367-357 BC
• Apollocrates, 357 BC
• Heracleides, 357 BC
• Dion, 357-354 BC
• Calippus, 354-352 BC
• Hipparinus, 352-351 BC
• Aretaeus, 352-350 BC
• Nysaeos, 350-346 BC
• Dionysius II, the Younger, (restored, 346-344 BC)
• Timoleon, 345-337 BC
• Agathocles, 320 BC (banished)
• Acestorides, 320-319 BC
• Agathocles, 317-289 BC
• Hicetas, 289-279 BC
• Thoenon, 279 BC,See Siege of Syracuse (278 BC)
• Sosistratus, 279-277 BC^[4]
• Hieron II, 275-215 BC
• Gelon II, c. 240-216 BC
• Hieronymus, 215-214 BC
• Adranodoros, 214-212 BC
• Hippocrates, 213-212 BC
• Epicydes, 213-212 BC

Tarentum

• Aristophylidas, c. 516-492 BC^[21]

Tarsus

• Lysias, before 67 BC ^[22]

Tauromenium

• Andromachus, fl. 344 BC
• Tyndarion, fl. 278 BC

Thasos

• Symmachus, c. 520 BC ^[23]

Thebes

• Leontiades, 382-379 BC (killed)
• Archias, 382-379 BC (killed)

Zeleia

• Nicagoras, 334 BC (conquered by Alexander the Great)^[24]

Notes and References

1. Herodotus, Histories,4.138
2. [Aeneas Tacticus]
3. Heraclides Lembus, Excerpta Politiarum, 69."Ἀκραγαντίνων: […] μεθ’ ὃν Ἀλκαμένης παρέλαβε τὰ πράγματα, καὶ μετὰ τοῦτον Ἄλκανδρος προέστη, ἀνὴρ ἐπιεικής. καὶ εὐθένησαν οὕτως ὡς περιπόρφυρα ἔχειν ἱμάτια." (Constitution of the Acragantines. […] After him [i.e. Phalaris] Alcamenes seized the power, and after him, Alcander, a righteous man, governed. And they flourished to such an extent that they had himations fringed with purple”.)(DILTS 1971)
4. Diod.22.7.2,Polyaen.5.37.1
5. Aristotle, Constitution of Athens,17.4
6. [Memnon of Heraclea]
7. Pausanias,2.21.8
8. Thucydides in Book II of his History of the Peloponnesian War
9. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D4 Hecataetus entry
10. [Thucydides]
11. Plutarch, Solon,14.4
12. Strabo,13.4
13. [Aristophanes]
14. Herodotus,Histories,4.138
15. Plutarch, Greek Questions 57
16. Herodotus 8.85,Herodotus,9.90
17. Pausanias,6.19.1
18. Frontinus’ “Strategemata”.
19. Herodotus,5.94
20. Plutarch,Pericles, 20
21. Herodotus,3.136.2
22. [Deipnosophistae]
23. Polyaenus: Stratagems,BOOK 2,1.27
24. http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/erudits/athenee/livre7gr.htm#288a Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, §7.288