The Compleat Angler

Observations on the Rise of Peisistratos in Herodotos (1.59–64)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9376707
AutoresBrian M Lavelle (Loyola University Chicago, autor de correspondencia)
Año1991
Volumen41
Número2
Páginas317-324
Fecha de publicación1991-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Classical Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0009-8388 • E-ISSN: 1471-6844
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0009838800004493
OpenAlexW2102684626
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas18
Referencias citadas17

The Acarnanian chrēsmologos Amphilytos spoke the verses to Peisistratos just before the battle of Pallene in 546 b.c . They contain a prediction of imminent victory for Peisistratos and total defeat for the Athenians. The Athenians will be routed and deprived of political self-determination, while the victory will restore to Peisistratos the tyranny from which he was twice forced, ‘rooting’ it once for all. Of course, all of this appears quite evident from the narrative. But as the verses form part of Herodotos' account of Peisistratos' ascent to power they amount to much more, for they constitute penultimate proof of Peisistratos' irresistibility (and his tyranny's inevitability), a recurrent theme in Herodotos' logos , but one which was undoubtedly encouraged by his Athenian sources as a means of explaining how the Athenians were forced to yield the tyranny. Indeed, the theme of irresistibility helps to excuse the Athenians for being overcome; as much of the logos , which is historically quite vague, it is a reaction to fact, not factual itself

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