Pisistratus

Family: Hill-party · Role: Athenian ruler · First appears: Solon

Pisistratus, leader of the Hill-party and Athenian ruler, was cousin and initially a close friend of Solon, who valued his noble qualities and beauty. After Solon’s departure, Pisistratus headed the Hill-party against Megacles and the Sea-side faction; he then seized the Acropolis, prompting Megacles and his family to flee. Solon knew of his ambition but could not suppress it and yielded to his usurpation: “Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus's ambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpation in its infancy;”

Once in command, Pisistratus courted and honored Solon, who advised him and approved many of his actions. Pisistratus retained most of Solon’s laws, observed them himself, and compelled his friends to obey; their political enmity never became violent. He was also attached to Charmus, and Ariston proposed granting him fifty clubmen as a personal guard. Pisistratus was the son of Hippocrates and, when he married his second wife, Timonassa of Argos, had, it is said, Iophon and Thessalus.

Relationship record

Life events

Pisistratus seized the Acropolis, prompting Megacles and his family to flee.(Solon · 📍 Acropolis)
- With: Megacles
- “until he seized the Acropolis. When that was done, and the city in an uproar, Megacles, with all his family, at once fled;”
Solon failed to suppress Pisistratus's ambition and yielded to his usurpation.(Comparison of Poplicola with Solon)
- With: Solon
- “Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus's ambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpation in its infancy;”

Solon

cousins with Solon “his mother, as Heraclides Ponticus affirms, was cousin to Pisistratus's mother”
friends with Solon “and the two at first were great friends, partly because they were akin, and partly because of Pisistratus's noble qualities and beauty.”
enemies with Solon “when afterwards they differed about the government, their enmity never produced any hot and violent passion”
with Solon (interaction) “But Pisistratus, having got the command, so extremely courted Solon, so honored him, obliged him, and sent to see him, that Solon gave him his advice, and approved many of his actions;”
with Charmus (interaction) “Pisistratus, it is stated, was similarly attached to one Charmus;”
rivals with Megacles “When Solon was gone, the citizens began to quarrel; Lycurgus headed the Plain; Megacles, the son of Alcmaeon, those to the Sea-side; and Pisistratus the Hill-party”
child: Hippocrates “This, O son of Hippocrates, is a bad copy of Homer's Ulysses;”
with Thersippus (interaction) “Pisistratus followed Solon's example in this, who had decreed it in the case of one Thersippus, that was maimed;”
courtship with Solon “And they say Solon loved him”
courtship with Charmus “Pisistratus, it is stated, was similarly attached to one Charmus”
admired: Solon “Pisistratus, having got the command, so extremely courted Solon, so honored him, obliged him, and sent to see him”
mentor: Solon “Solon gave him his advice, and approved many of his actions; for he retained most of Solon's laws, observed them himself, and compelled his friends to obey”
parent: Hippocrates “This, O son of Hippocrates, is a bad copy of Homer's Ulysses”
with Ariston (interaction) “one Ariston making a motion that they should allow Pisistratus fifty clubmen for a guard to his person”

Comparison of Poplicola with Solon

with Solon (Pisistratus's ambition and usurpation opposed Solon's political aims.) “Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus's ambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpation in its infancy”
rivals with Solon (Solon opposed Pisistratus's attempted usurpation.) “Solon, though he actually knew of Pisistratus's ambition, yet was not able to suppress it, but had to yield to usurpation in its infancy”

Marcus Cato

married with Timonassa “when he married his second wife, Timonassa of Argos”
parent: Iophon “by whom he had, it is said, Iophon and Thessalus”
child: Thessalus “by whom he had, it is said, Iophon and Thessalus”

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Extracted from the original text of Plutarch's Lives. Made with Rho MD.