In short from first to last the tyranny at Corinth is seen taking an active part in guiding the industrial, commercial and maritime activities of the city[985]. This however is what might be expected from any able government at the period, and nobody has ever questioned the Cypselids’ ability. The previous government, that of the aristocracy of the Bacchiads, had “exploited the market with impunity[986],” and very possibly this short-sighted policy had hastened and helped their fall[987]. [Sidenote: Before he became tyrant Cypselus was probably polemarch,] But how precisely were they overthrown? What was the career of Cypselus previous to his obtaining the tyranny? According to Nicolaus Damascenus, who based himself largely on the fourth century Ephorus[988], Labda, the mother of Cypselus, belonged to the Bacchiad aristocracy, but owing to a personal deformity[989] she had married beneath her. Her husband, Eetion, is variously said to have been descended from the pre-Hellenic Lapithae of Thessaly[990] and from a non-Dorian stock of Gonussa above Sicyon[991]. In any case, as observed by How and Wells[992], Eetion belonged to the pre-Dorian “Aeolic” population of Corinth[993]. The Bacchiad aristocracy was extremely exclusive. Its members married only among themselves. Consequently the official oracles prophesied evil from this union, and when a son was born of it, the government sent agents to destroy the child. But the infant melted the hearts of its would-be murderers, and instead of killing it they went back and reported that they had done so. The infant was sent away by its parents to Olympia, and was brought up first there and then at Cleonae. Encouraged by a Delphic oracle Cypselus returned to Corinth, became very popular, was elected polemarch, and made himself still more popular by refusing to imprison citizens and remitting in all cases his part of their fines. Finally he headed a rising against the unpopular Bacchiads, killed Patrokleides, who was king at the time, and was made king in his stead. He ruled mildly, neither maintaining a bodyguard nor losing the people’s favour[994].