Cylon
historical figure · 3 works · 3 mentions · 9 anchored passages
in the texts
The Histories
Athenian Olympic victor who attempted to seize the Athenian acropolis and establish a tyranny; his followers' killing while under sanctuary gave rise to the curse of 'the Accursed'.
Although they were subject to any penalty save death, they were slain, and their death was attributed to the Alcmaeonidae.
There was an Athenian named Cylon, who had been a winner at Olympia.
History of the Peloponnesian War
Athenian nobleman and Olympic victor who, on a misread oracle, attempted to seize the Acropolis and make himself tyrant of Athens, escaping while his followers were massacred.
So having received a force from Theagenes, and persuaded his friends to it, when the Olympic festival in the Peloponnese came on, he seized the Acropolis with a view to establishing a tyranny;
There was one Cylon, a man who had conquered at the Olympic games, an Athenian of the olden time, both noble and powerful;
Now those who were besieged with Cylon were in a wretched condition for want of food and water.