The tyrant
historical figure · 4 works · 5 mentions · 6 anchored passages
a perfect and finished tyrant · he · the leader of the people · the protector · the tyrant · the tyrant of Babylon · the tyrant's life · tyrannical appetites · tyrant · tyrant of Sicyon
spoken of as
2 expressionsthe tyrant of Babylon1 mention
Adversus Marcionem (Latin)
And this very patience of the Creator will be unto Marcion's judgment — that patience which awaits the sinner's repentance rather than his death, and prefers mercy to sacrifice, already turning aside the destruction destined for the Ninevites, and lavishing space of life upon Hezekiah's tears, and restoring the state of his kingdom to the tyrant of Babylon feigning repentance:
the tyrant of Sicyon1 mention
Orations (Greek)
accounting all his subjects slaves and ministers of his own luxury, not having even the character of a decent herdsman, who provides shelter and pasture for his flocks and besides wards off beasts and guards against thieves—but being himself the first to plunder and destroy, and permitting others to do so, as though, I think, with the spoil of enemies—then I would never call such a man either rule …
in the texts
Republic
The archetypal tyrant, who emerges from the role of popular protector, purges rivals, and ultimately enslaves and even threatens violence against the very people (demos) that raised him to power
And is it not true that in like manner a leader of the people who, getting control of a docile mob, does not withhold his hand from the shedding of tribal blood, but by the customary unjust accusations brings a citizen into court and assassinates him, blotting out a human life, and with unhallowed tongue and lips that have tasted kindred blood, banishes and slays and hints at the abolition of debt …
This, then, is plain, said I, that when a tyrant arises he sprouts from a protectorate root and from nothing else.
A very parricide, said I, you make the tyrant out to be, and a cruel nurse of old age, and, as it seems, this is at last tyranny open and avowed, and, as the saying goes, the demos trying to escape the smoke of submission to the free would have plunged into the fire of enslavement to slaves, and in exchange for that excessive and unseasonable liberty has clothed itself in the garb of the most crue …
Orations
An unnamed ruler of Sicyon addressed by Apollo as a mere tyrant rather than a true king.
accounting all his subjects slaves and ministers of his own luxury, not having even the character of a decent herdsman, who provides shelter and pasture for his flocks and besides wards off beasts and guards against thieves—but being himself the first to plunder and destroy, and permitting others to do so, as though, I think, with the spoil of enemies—then I would never call such a man either rule …
Evagoras
The ruler of Salamis killed by a prince before Evagoras' return to power.
For one of the princes, starting a conspiracy, slew the tyrant and attempted to arrest Evagoras, believing that he would not be able to retain the rule himself unless he should get him out of the way.
When the supporters of the tyrant opposed him and the citizens generally were observers (for they held their peace because they feared either the authority of the one party or the valor of the other), he did not cease from fighting, whether alone against many or with few opposing all the foe, until, having captured the palace, he had taken vengeance upon the enemy and had succoured his friends:
Adversus Marcionem
The Babylonian king whose kingdom was restored to him upon his feigned repentance, cited as an example of divine mercy.
And this very patience of the Creator will be unto Marcion's judgment — that patience which awaits the sinner's repentance rather than his death, and prefers mercy to sacrifice, already turning aside the destruction destined for the Ninevites, and lavishing space of life upon Hezekiah's tears, and restoring the state of his kingdom to the tyrant of Babylon feigning repentance: