KYLON: THE MAN WHO CHANGED ATHENS

Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens

Emmanuel Agoratsios

Who was this Kylon and why did he bring about change in Athens in the mid-
seventh century BC? The aim of this discussion will endeavour to focus briefly on
Kylon himself and why he caused such a stir at Athens at the time. This event, now
known as the Kylonian Conspiracy is the earliest attested historical event in Athenian
history which will be briefly outlined. The main focus though will be on the close of
events and how the Conspiracy ended, and what became of Kylon, his supporters
and his opponents.
The Kylonian Conspiracy brought about a lot of political turmoil that embroiled
one of Athens’ leading families, the Alkmeonidai. Their role in the whole affair will
be discussed as they were accused of dealing with Kylon’s supporters heavy handily.
As this event is strictly based on literary traditions, the evidence that will be used
primarily to illustrate certain points is in literary works of well known status, namely
Herodotos, Thoukydides (Thucydides) and Ploutarkhos (Plutarch). The source tradi-
tions as presented by the literary accounts preserve differing aspects of the Con-
spiracy which will be examined to explain the differences.

Introduction
Apart from the mysterious figure of Drakon who codified the Athenian Law Code,
Kylon was also a figure of much interest in the seventh century BC in what was
then Archaic Athens. It is a period of which only a sprinkling of information is
known and where modern scholarship has brought out the tools of extrapolation,
interpolation and re-construction to fill in the gaps left in our knowledge. From
the evidence available, we have a small number of separate episodes, one of which
where Kylon was the main character.

Who was Kylon?

Although Kylon was somewhat of an important figure in Archaic Athens, it seems
that the ancient writers from Herodotos onwards knew a fair amount about Kylon
and were able to draw up some basic traditions about him. Firstly, Kylon was
described in the surviving traditions about him as a nobleman by birth, belonging

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 107 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

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 EMMANUEL AGORATSIOS

The Acropolis at Athens (Leo von Klenze, 1846).

to one of the old aristocratic families of Athens, whom Thoukydides described as

being “noble and powerful in days of old”.1 Secondly, the traditions about Kylon
state that he was an Olympic victor as he had won the footrace (diaulos in Greek) at
the 35th Olympiad (640–39 BC) and he was quite renowned in Athens after his vic-
tory for his Olympian status.2 Thirdly, the traditions indicated that Kylon had mar-
ried a woman of non-Athenian parentage, the woman being the daughter of the
Megarian tyrant Theagenes who was another powerful figure in Archaic Greece of
whom modern scholarship knows very little.3 Pausanias noted in his description of
the Akropolis a bronze, uninscribed statue of poor craftsmanship which tradition
claimed to be a depiction of Kylon that once stood within the temenos of Athena
Polias on the Akropolis that was perhaps dedicated to him.4

The Kylonian Conspiracy

The term Kylonian Conspiracy is a modern term employed by modern scholars to
describe this episode. The Conspiracy was actually an attempt at tyranny by Kylon
in approximately 632–1 BC or thereabouts. What is also important about the Kylo-
nian Conspiracy is that it was the first historically attested event of Athenian politi-
cal history placing it before the time of Solon. As the sources are quite detailed the
evidence has been tabulated below:

1
Thoukydides 1.126.3.
2
See Eusebios, Khronika 1.198 for the date of Kylon’s victory. For other evidence of Kylon’s Olympian
status see Herodotos 5.71.1, Thoukydides 1.126.3 and Pausanias 1.28.1.
3
For evidence of the marriage alliance between Kylon and the family of Theagenes see Thoukydides
1.126.3, Pausanias 1.28.1 and sch. Aristophanes, Knights 445 ἀλιτηρίων.
4
Pausanias 1.28.1.

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 108 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

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 KYLON: THE MAN WHO CHANGED ATHENS

TABLE 1
SOURCE DETAILS HERODOTOS 5.71.1–2 THOUKYDIDES 1.126 PLOUTARKHOS SOLON 12
Mention of the Kylon grew his hair long Kylon’s father-in-law No mention of any prior
preparations of Kylon with a view to tyranny and Theagenes provided him preparations.
prior to the coup. collected a band of friends with troops and Kylon
together. summoned his own
friends to join him.
Consultation of the Not stated. Yes, the reply being to Not stated.
Delphic Oracle? seize the Akropolis at the
greatest festival of Zeus.
Mention of Kylon’s Yes. Yes. No, but implied.
capture of the
Akropolis.
Mention of a siege Yes. Yes. Yes.
Mention of an Yes, the prytaneis of the Yes, the archons who Yes, Megakles the archon
agreement between naukraroi induced the kept guard over them induced the Kylonians to
the two parties. Kylonians to leave the induced them to leave the leave the Akropolis to stand
Akropolis to face trial but Akropolis. trial.
sparing their lives.
What became of the They were executed. The They were massacred Those outside the Akropolis
Kylonians? Alkmeonidai were blamed. on the spot. Others were were massacred. Others
Kylon’s fate unclear. massacred at the altars of were massacred at the altars.
the Eumenides. Kylon and Some survived by appealing
his brother escaped. to the wives of the archons.
Kylon’s fate unclear.
What became of the Not mentioned. Labelled as Accursed and Labelled as Accursed and
perpetrators? expelled some time later expelled some time later
but unclear when. but unclear when.

TABLE 2
SOURCE DETAILS SCH. AR. KNIGHTS 445 = SCH. AR. KNIGHTS 445 = SCH. AR. KNIGHTS 445 =
ΕΚ ΤΩΝ ΑΛΙΤΗΡΙΩΝ (1st) ΑΛΙΤΗΡΙΩΝ (2nd) ΑΛΛΩΣ (3rd)
Mention of the No stated. Yes, Kylon collected a Not stated.
preparations of Kylon force from Theagenes.
prior to the coup.
Consultation of the Not stated. Yes, the reply being to take Not stated.
Delphic Oracle? the city at the great festival
of Zeus.
Mention of Kylon’s No, but implied. Yes. Yes.
capture of the
Akropolis.
Mention of a siege. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Mention of an Not stated. Not stated. Not stated.
agreement between
the two parties.
What became of the Executed by stoning. Some executed, others They were executed at the
Kylonians? Kylon’s fate unclear. massacred at the altars. altars of the gods. Kylon
Kylon escaped. escaped.
What became of the Labelled as Accursed. Not They were expelled for Labelled as Accursed. Not
perpetrators? named. breaking ancient laws named.
pertaining to suppliants.
Not named.

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 109 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

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 EMMANUEL AGORATSIOS

How did the conspiracy occur?

It would appear that Kylon and his followers made some very important military
preparations in secret and in order that they not arouse suspicion amongst the
Athenians. These military preparations were possibly conducted in Megara under
the guidance of Theagenes, Kylon’s father-in-law.5 Apart from his military prepara-
tions, Kylon sought the divine approval of Apollo at Delphi to support his attempt
at tyranny by consulting the Delphic Oracle which told him to capture Athens at
the greatest festival of Zeus.6 Kylon and his force were almost successful in cap-
turing the Akropolis but were spotted by an unknown individual or individuals
who alerted the authorities to the crisis that was about to occur.7 All our sources
indicate that the Kylonians were besieged upon the Akropolis and the siege lasted
an unknown amount of time, but long enough for the Kylonians to feel the pain
of hunger and subsequent death. As a result of this predicament, the Kylonians
agreed to come to terms with the Athenian authorities and negotiations between
the two parties were conducted resulting in a reprieve for the Kylonians on the
condition that they come down from the Akropolis and face justice before the
Athenian courts.8 One of the points where our main sources diverge is who the
chief negotiators were for the Athenians at the time of the crisis. The earliest source
Herodotos referred to an Athenian office known as the Prytaneis of the Naukraroi
(which was rendered obsolete by the end of the sixth century BC when Kleisthenes
reformed the Athenian constitution) as being not only the negotiators at the time
but also the main political office in Athens in the seventh century BC. Thoukydides
followed another tradition stating that the negotiators were the nine archons who
were amongst the most powerful officials in the archaic period in Athens which
is a direct contradiction to what Herodotos had claimed.9 The latter of the main
sources concerning Kylon, the biography of Solon by Ploutarkhos went one step
further and named the eponymous archon of that year Megakles the Alkmeonid as
the negotiator. By naming Megakles, Ploutarkhos made a very important connec-
tion and noted the very purpose as to why the tradition about Kylon’s attempt at
tyranny was preserved, the origin of the Alkmeonid curse, the Alkmeonidai being
one of the prominent aristocratic families in Athens to which Megakles belonged.

The end of the conspiracy

Unfortunately for Kylon most of his supporters were massacred where they stood
or at the altar of the Eumenides possibly by means of stoning or daggers once they

5
Herodotos 5.71.1, Thoukydides 1.126.5, sch. Aristophanes Knights 445 ἀλιτηρίων.
6
Herodotos 5.71.1, Thoukydides 1.126.5, sch. Aristophanes Knights 445 ἀλιτηρίων.
7
Herodotos 5.71.1, Thoukydides 1.126.7, sch. Aristophanes Knights 445 ἀλιτηρίων + Ἀλως.
8
Herodotos 5.71.2, Thoukydides 1.126.11, Ploutarkhos, Solon 12.1.
9
Thoukydides 1.126.8.

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 110 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.au

 KYLON: THE MAN WHO CHANGED ATHENS

had descended from the Akropolis under the initial terms of the treaty.10 Due to
their hunger and severely weakened state many of them were unable to escape and
were at the mercy of the Athenians. Some of the Kylonians survived the massacre
by appealing to the wives of the archons, and these survivors formed a new follow-
ing and remained at odds with the Alkmeonidai by never allowing them to forget
what they did to their supporters on that fateful day.11 Kylon escaped the atrocities
together with his brother.12 The perpetrators of the massacre were condemned by
the Athenians as Accursed for breaking ancient laws pertaining to suppliants but
the ones accused of ordering the massacre of the Kylonians and were expelled
from Athens a generation later as a result of a public trial possibly on the indict-
ment of sacrilege.13 The family who in fact were held responsible for this crime
were the Alkmeonidai, but due to the prominence of the family in Athens it would
take many years for the family to be indicted. It was the persistence of the family’s
opponents who lost members of their families during the Kylonian Conspiracy.

Why did Kylon change Athens?

Kylon’s attempt at tyranny and the way it was dealt with by the Alkmeonidai tainted
the reputation of the family. The influence of the Alkmeonidai began to wane in
the years after Kylon’s failed coup which led to civil strife breaking out in Athens
between the Kylonians and the Alkmeonidai.14 The Alkmeonidai who had once
dominated the political scene in Athens were fighting for survival, humiliated by
the curse that tainted the family name (even Perikles some two hundred years
later at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War in 431–0 BC was attacked by
the Spartans for carrying this old curse15). Solon attempted to defuse the feud as
Athens was suffering also militaristically when they lost the island of Salamis to
the Megarians which might well have stirred up memories on both sides.16 Solon
persuaded the Alkmeonidai to submit to a public trial to clear the family name only
to be condemned and expelled from the city and the bones of their dead ances-
tors were exhumed and cast out of Attika.17 Even though Kylon lost his chance at
becoming tyrant he left Athens forever tainted with the blood of his supporters and
the repercussions of his defeat would be felt by the Alkmeonidai for many years to

10
The evidence available although late indicates that stoning was how the Athenians massacred the
Kylonians. See sch. Aristophanes Knights 445 ἐκ τῶν ἀλιτηρίων.
11
Ploutarkhos Solon 12.2, Aristotle Athenaion Politeia 2.
12
Thoukydides 1.126.10, sch. Aristophanes Knights 445 ἀλιτηρίων.
13
Thoukydides 1.126.12, Ploutarkhos Solon 12.2–3.
14
Aristotle Athenaion Politeia 2, Ploutarkhos Solon 12.2–3.
15
Thoukydides 1.127.1.
16
For traditions concerning the war over Salamis see Ploutarkhos Solon 9.
17
For the exhumation of the Alkmeonid dead see Thoukydides 1.126.12, Ploutarkhos Solon 12.2–3.

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 111 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.au

 EMMANUEL AGORATSIOS

come as it became known not only to the Athenians but also to other Greeks like
the Spartans who saw this as an excuse to remove Perikles from office in the fifth
century BC.

Bibliography

Translated Works
Aristotle*
Aristotle, The Athenian Constitution. Trans. by P. J. Rhodes. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984.
Herodotos*
Herodotus, The Histories. Trans. by A. De Sélincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1954.
Ploutarkhos*
Plutarch, The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives. Trans. by I. Scott-Kilvert. Harmond-
sworth: Penguin, 1960.
Thoukydides*
Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War. Trans. by R. Warner. Harmondsworth: Pen-
guin, 1954.

Other Works
Dübner, 1969
F. Dübner ed., Scholia in Aristophanem. Hildesheim.

* Please note that in this article the Greek spelling of personal names has been adopted but in the
bibliography where works are cited if the Latin spelling has been used it has been written thus.

Agoratsios, Emmanuel. 2007. Kylon: The Man Who Changed Athens. 112 In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Couvalis (eds.) "Greek
Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University June 2005",
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 107-112.

Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.au