Πολιτιστική Πύλη του Αρχιπελάγους του Αιγαίου ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ
Main Image
 
 

Θεματικός Κατάλογος

empty
empty
 

Δικτυακοί τόποι

empty
empty
 
 
empty empty empty

Αναζητήστε στο χάρτη

empty
 

Το έργο

empty
empty
arrow

Περιγραφή

arrow

Συντελεστές

 
 

Polycrates

      Πολυκράτης (5/5/2006 v.1) Polycrates (5/5/2006 v.1)
line

Συγγραφή : Kamara Afroditi (12/10/2006)
Μετάφραση : Papaioannou Helen (19/12/2006)

Για παραπομπή: Kamara Afroditi, "Polycrates", 2006,
Πολιτιστική Πύλη του Αρχιπελάγους του Αιγαίου

URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=10565>

 
 

1. Birthplace and family

Polycrates (580-522 BC) was the last of long line of tyrants, related to each other, who determined the political life of Samos during the 6th century BC. They managed to hold off enemies, mainly from Mytilene; extend the Samian peraia, reinforce naval trade and develop the Arts. The first of these was Syloson son of Kalliteli. Polycrates’ father Aiakis seems to have been either a cousin or nephew of Syloson, and probably succeeded him in power. His position was such that he was able to invite the lyrical poet Anacreon to teach his son music and singing. Ibicos, Another famous poet, also visited Samos during the 6th century BC (564-560 BC) and among other poems he composed a poem dedicated to the young Polycrates who was outstanding among his peers for his education and athletic abilities.

2. Activity

One of the most important sources of information for the time that Polycrates was in power is Herodotus. According to this ancient historian, Polycrates together with his brother Syloson the second, took power in a revolt, this suggests that at some point his father had lost his power to aristocrats who had been driven back in the past. The date of the rise to power of the two brothers is not known exactly but could be placed around 548-546 BC. Syloson died two years later and so Polycrates remained to rule Samos alone. The period of his rule is generally seen as a time of the greatest prosperity of the island.

3. Undertakings of Polycrates

Because of the respect he had for intellectual creativity, Polycrates invited numerous important artists and scientists to his court whom he remunerated handsomely. Eupalinos from Megara built important works of infrastructure, such as the breakwater, and the well known tunnel. He invited the doctor Dimokides, his teacher Anacreon, and of course Theodore the son of the architect Roikou who built the Hraiou. At the same time other intellectuals such as Pythagoras were forced to leave the island because of political differences.
However as well as these achievements Polycrates, with a mind to breeding and cultivation, brought livestock and plants to the island that had great importance for the islands economy. He brought goats from Skiros, hunting dogs from Ipiros, sheep, much prided for their long glossy wool, from Miletus and pigs from Sicily. He also had a new type of ship built, the Samaina, which could be used both as a merchant or a war ship. With the growth of his fleet he managed to have naval supremacy in the east Aegean. The naval prosperity is confirmed by model wooden ships which have been found as offerings to Hraio. Generally prosperity is reflected in the mint of silver coins under Polycrates, which replaced the older amber currency, a material that was becoming harder to find anyway after the Persian conquest of Lydia, from where it came. Polycrates himself had a healthy understanding of economics; commercial obsession would perhaps be a better description. It is said that before his rise to power he had utensils and expensive material made which he then rented out for special events.
The economic peak had its reflection in the Arts. Samian ceramics developed in the 6th century BC using decoration inspired from plant and animal life. The fact that most of the sculptures are signed shows that the artists enjoyed a high social position.
Nevertheless the political life of the island was marked by a lack of freedom and whoever disagreed was banished. The bad moments of Polycrates political career include the breaking of the alliance with Amasis of Egypt. This event was against Samian interests in their trade outpost of Naukratis and drove some of the merchants and sailors there to revolt. Another bad moment was the murder, for the acquisition of fortunes of certain men from Lydia who had come to Samos to find sanctuary from the Persian satrap Oroetes. It seems that the constant objective of Polycrates was the destruction of the landowning classes and the use of their wealth for large scale public works. His aim was to provide works that benefited all the community in order to strengthen his relationship with them and in particular the warriors.

4. The end of Polycrates' rule

The down fall of Polycrates and the Samian force came when Cambyses, came to the throne of Persia and conquered the Phoenician fleet. To begin with Polycrates formed an alliance with the Persians and even sent 40 ships, in the face of political disagreement, to strengthen the Persian campaign against Egypt. The dissenters travelled to Sparta and persuaded the Spartans and the Corinthians to invade the island.
With their coffers empty and the Peloponnesians having control of the Aegean Polycrates took a fatal step of accepting an alliance with Oroetes. When he went to Lydia he realised too late that it was a ruse, Oroetes captured him and crucified him.

 

Κεφάλαια

empty
empty

Δελτίο λήμματος

 

Φωτοθήκη

empty
empty
 
 
empty
emptyemptyempty
empty press image to open photo library empty
empty
empty
 Άνοιγμα Φωτοθήκης 
 
 

Βοηθήματα Λήμματος

empty
empty
 
 
  KTP   ESPA   MNEC   INFOSOC   EU