Pisistratus (or Peisistratos) (c. 605-527 BC)

Athenian tyrant. Although of noble family, he became the leader of the anti-aristocratic party, and seized power in 561 BC. He was twice expelled, but recovered power securely from 546 BC until his death. Ruling as a tyrant under constitutional forms (the historians Herodotus and Thucydides both attest that he left the rules and regulations of Solon as he found them), Pisistratus was a patron of the arts and literature and the first to have the poems of Homer written down. He introduced the Dionysiac rural festivals into Athens. He was succeeded by his sons Hippias and Hipparchus.

Trade flourished during the reign of Pisistratus and his sons were able to reduce taxation from 10% to 5%. The Attic economy was strengthened and Athens changed from a largely agricultural community to one based on trade and commerce. In this way the foundations were laid for the prosperity of Athens in the 5th century BC. The famous ‘Attic owl’ silver coinage dates from this time.

Pisistratus was related on his mother's side to Solon whose attempt to solve the political and economic problems of Attica had been only partially successful. Discontent followed and at the time of Pisistratus's rise to prominence, two parties existed: that of the Plain (possibly made up of landowners) and that of the Coast (possibly merchants and traders), in which the Alcmaeonidae were prominent. Pisistratus, who had achieved military success in a war against Megara 565 BC, formed a third party, the ‘men beyond the hills’, and attempted to gain the support of the smaller landholders and of those who did not own land or property (immigrants and the recently impoverished).

Having made himself tyrant, possibly with the support of the Alcmaeonidae, he was expelled 556. He was then brought back and expelled again. He went to Macedonia where he owned silver mines and accumulated a fortune sufficient for him to return to Athens 546 BC with the help of foreign mercenaries. He established power once more and, with the support of all classes, remained tyrant until his death, exercising control by contriving to have the important offices filled by his trusted adherents or collaborators, and enjoying widespread popular support.

It can be said that Pisistratus succeeded, where Solon had failed, in securing for Athens a stable and efficient central government. He worked hard to establish the city of Athens as the focus of Athenian loyalties. He thus paved the way for the reforms of Cleisthenes reforms in 508/7 BC.