Polycrates

Family: Samian · Role: son of Aiakes · First appears: Book 2 · §175–182

At Samos, Polycrates first divided the government among himself and his brothers Pantagnotos and Syloson. He later put Pantagnotos to death and drove Syloson out, taking control of all Samos. He then established a guest-friendship with Amasis, exchanging gifts; after Polycrates threw his signet-ring into the sea, it was found inside a fish and returned to him. He sent an account of the events to Egypt, but Amasis broke off their guest-friendship.

Polycrates sent forty triremes carrying citizens he suspected of plotting against him to join Cambyses, and prepared to burn the families of those who deserted to the returning exiles. The returning Samians fought him, appealed to the Spartans, and received their help in an expedition against Samos. Oroites later killed Polycrates; Maiandrios, his secretary, held the rule over Samos as his trustee. Oroites was subsequently killed, and the account describes this as retribution for Polycrates’ murder.