dispatched fortunately touched at Samos in the way; where the Samians
and Knidians, shocked at a proceeding which outraged all Hellenic
sentiment, contrived to rescue the youths from the miserable fate
intended for them, and, after the death of Periander, sent them back
to their native island.[58]
[56] Aristot. Polit. v, 9, 2-22; iii, 8, 3; Herodot. v, 92.
[57] Ephorus, Frag. 106, ed. Marx.; Herakleidês Ponticus, Frag.
v, ed. Köhler; Nicolaus Damasc. p. 50, ed. Orell.; Diogen. Laërt.
i, 96-98; Suidas, v. Κυψελίδων ἀνάθημα.
[58] Herodot. iii, 47-54. He details at some length this tragical
story. Compare Plutarch, De Herodoti Malignitat. c. 22, p. 860.
While we turn with displeasure from the political life of this man,
we are at the same time made acquainted with the great extent of
his power,—greater than that which was ever possessed by Corinth
after the extinction of his dynasty. Korkyra, Ambrakia, Leukas,
and Anaktorium, all Corinthian colonies, but in the next century
independent states, appear in his time dependencies of Corinth.
Ambrakia is said to have been under the rule of another despot named
Periander, probably also a Kypselid by birth. It seems, indeed, that
the towns of Anaktorium, Leukas, and Apollonia in the Ionian gulf,
were either founded by the Kypselids, or received reinforcements
of Corinthian colonists, during their dynasty, though Korkyra was
established considerably earlier.[59]
[59] Aristot. Polit. v, 3, 6; 8, 9. Plutarch, Amatorius, c. 23,
p. 768, and De Serâ Numinis Vindictâ, c. 7, p. 553. Strabo,
vii, p. 325; x, p. 452. Scymnus Chius, v, 454, and Antoninus
Liberalis, c. iv, who quotes the lost work called Ἀμβρακικὰ of
Athanadas.
The reign of Periander lasted for forty years (B. C. 625-585):
Psammetichus son of Gordius, who succeeded him, reigned three
years, and the Kypselid dynasty is then said to have closed, after
having continued for seventy-three years.[60] In respect of power,
magnificent display, and wide-spread connections both in Asia and
in Italy, they evidently stood high among the Greeks of their time.
Their offerings consecrated at Olympia excited great admiration,
especially the gilt colossal statue of Zeus, and the large chest of
cedar-wood dedicated in the temple of Hêrê, overlaid with various
figures in gold and ivory: the figures were borrowed from mythical
and legendary story, and the chest was a commemoration both of the
name of Kypselus and of the tale of his marvellous preservation
in infancy.[61] If Plutarch is correct, this powerful dynasty is
to be numbered among the despots put down by Sparta;[62] yet such
intervention of the Spartans, granting it to have been matter of
fact, can hardly have been known to Herodotus.
[60] See Mr. Clinton, Fasti Hellenici, ad ann. 625-585 B. C.
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