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erity is indebted for the collection of the Homeric poems。 On the whole it cannot be denied that he made a wise and noble use of his power。
Pisistratus died at an advanced age in 527 B。C。； thirty…three years after his first usurpation。 He transmitted the sovereign power to his sons； Hippias and Hipparchus； who conducted the government on the same principles as their father。 Hipparchus inherited his father's literary tastes。 He invited several distinguished poets； such as Anacreon and Simonides； to his court。 The people appear to have been contented with their rule； and it was only an accidental circumstance which led to their overthrow and to a change in the government。
Their fall was occasioned by the conspiracy of Harmodius and Aristogiton； who were attached to each other by a most intimate friendship。 Harmodius having given offence to Hippias； the despot revenged himself by putting a public affront upon his sister。 This indignity excited the resentment of the two friends； and they now resolved to slay the despots at the festival of the Great Panathenaea； when all the citizens were required to attend in arms。 Having communicated their design to a few associates； the conspirators appeared armed at the appointed time like the rest of the citizens； but carrying concealed daggers besides。 Harmodius and Aristogiton had planned to kill Hippias first as he was arranging the order of the procession outside the city； but； upon approaching the spot where he was standing； they were thunderstruck at beholding one of the conspirators in close conversation with the despot。 Believing that they were betrayed； they rushed back into the city with their daggers hid in the myrtle boughs which they were to have carried in the procession； and killed Hipparchus。 Harmodius was immediately cut down by the guards。 Aristogiton died under the tortures to which he was subjected in order to compel him to disclose his accomplices。
Hipparchus was assassinated in B。C。 514； the fourteenth year after the death of Pisistratus。 From this time the character of the government became entirely changed。 His brother's murder converted Hippias into a cruel and suspicious tyrant。 He put to death numbers of the citizens； and raised large sums of money by extraordinary taxes。
The Alcmaeonidae； who had lived in exile ever since the third and final restoration of Pisistratus to Athens； now began to form schemes to expel the tyrant。 Clisthenes； the son of Megacles； who was the head of the family； secured the Delphian oracle by pecuniary presents to the Pythia； or priestess； henceforth； whenever the Spartans came to consult the oracle； the answer of the priestess was always the same； 〃Athens must be liberated。〃 This order was so often repeated； that the Spartans at last resolved to obey。 Cleomenes； king of Sparta； defeated the Thessalian allies of Hippias； and the tyrant； unable to meet his enemies in the field； took refuge in the Acropolis。 Here he might have maintained himself in safety； had not his children been made prisoners as they were being secretly carried out of the country。 To procure their restoration； he consented to quit Attics in the space of five days。 He sailed to Asia； and took up his residence at Sigeum in the Troad； which his father had wrested from the Mytilenaeans in war。
Hippias was expelled in B。C。 510； four years after the assassination of Hipparchus。 These four years had been a time of suffering and oppression for the Athenians； and had effaced from their minds all recollection of the former mild rule of Pisistratus and his sons。 Hence the expulsion of the family was hailed with delight。 The memory of Harmodius and Aristogiton was cherished with the fondest reverence； and the Athenians of a later age； overlooking the four years which had elapsed from their death to the overthrow of the despotism； represented them as the liberators of their country and the first martyrs for its liberty。 Their statues were erected in the market…place soon after the expulsion of Hippias； their descendants enjoyed immunity from all taxes and public burdens； and their deed of vengeance formed the favourite subject of drinking songs。
The Lacedaemonians quitted Athens soon after Hippias had sailed away； leaving the Athenians to settle their own affairs。 Clisthenes； to whom Athens was mainly indebted for its liberation from the despotism； aspired to be the political leader of the state but he was opposed by Isagoras； the leader of the party of the nobles。 By the Solonian constitution； the whole political power was vested in the hands of the nobles； and Clisthenes soon found that it was hopeless to contend against his rival under the existing order of things。 For this reason he resolved to introduce an important change in the constitution； and to give to the people an equal share in the government。
The reforms of Clisthenes gave birth to the Athenian democracy； which can hardly be said to have existed before this time。 His first and most important measure was a redistribution of the whole population of Attica into ten new tribes。 He abolished the four ancient Ionic tribes； and enrolled in the ten new tribes all the free inhabitants of Attica； including both resident aliens and even emancipated slaves。 He divided the tribes into a certain number of cantons or townships； called DEMI； which at a later time were 174 in number。 Every Athenian citizen was obliged to be enrolled in a demus； each of which； like a parish in England； administered its own affairs。 It had its public meetings it levied rates； and was under the superintendence of an officer called DEMARCHUS。
The establishment of the ten new tribes led to a change in the number of the Senate。 It had previously consisted of 400 members； but it was now enlarged to 500； fifty being selected from each of the ten new tribes。 The Ecclesia； or formal assembly of the citizens； was now summoned at certain fixed periods； and Clisthenes transferred the government of the state； which had hitherto been in the hands of the archons； to the senate and the ecclesia。 He also increased the judicial as well as the political power of the people； and enacted that all public crimes should be tried by the whole body of citizens above thirty years of age； specially convoked and sworn for the purpose。 The assembly thus convened was called HELIAEA and its members HELIASTS。 Clisthenes also introduced the OSTRACISM； by which an Athenian citizen might be banished without special accusation； trial； or defence for ten years； which term was subsequently reduced to five。 It must be recollected that the force which a Greek government had at its disposal was very small； and that it was comparatively easy for an ambitious citizen； supported by a numerous body of partisans； to overthrow the constitution and make himself despot。 The Ostracism was the means devised by Clisthenes for removing quietly from the state a powerful party leader before he could carry into execution any violent schemes for the subversion of the government。 Every precaution was taken to guard this institution from abuse。 The senate and the ecclesia had first to determine by a special vote whether the safety of the state required