DOI Artikel:
McMurtry, W. J.: Excavations at the theatre of Sikyon: general report of the excavations
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8678#0014
REP OUT OF EXCAVATIONS AT SIKYON.
fact, tyranny was the usual rather than, as in other Hellenic communi-
ties, the exceptional form of government. One family of despots, the
Orthagoridai, held sway for a century, a circumstance without paral-
lel among Greek states. The government of this family was very
successful. They formed extensive commercial relations, carried on
victorious wars, encouraged artistic enterprises, and won chariot-vic-
tories for their city in the national games. The period of Kleisthenes
especially was one of the most flourishing in the history of Sikyon.'
Herodotos' story (vr. 126) of the marriage of the daughter of that
prince gives a picture of the contemporaneous importance of the city.
The Orthagoridai seem not to have belonged to the Dorian portion of
the people, and to have done everything in their power to repress the
citizens of that race. Kleisthenes went so far as to change the ancient
and venerated names of the three Dorian tribes and to force upon them
new and odious designations. But Kleisthenes was the last ruler of
his line, and it is probable that after his death there came a Dorian reac-
tion. At any rate, we find that Sikyon was a member of the Dorian
league during the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. During the strug-
gle between Sparta and Thebes the city suffered severely. It gradu-
ally lost its importance, became subject to Ptolemy, and finally fell into
the hands of Demetrios Poliorketes, who played a prominent part in
its later history. Previous to his time, the main portion of the city
stood in the plain at the foot of the large plateau upon which the
akropolis M as located. Probably for the reason that the population
had become so reduced in numbers as to be inadequate for the defense
of so large an extent of wall, Demetrios compelled the citizens to abandon
the town in the plain, and to build upon the acropolis. Upon the smaller
and somewhat more elevated plateau immediately behind the earlier
acropolis, he placed his own, fortifying the entire height, already by
nature almost impregnable, by means of a wall, considerable portions
of which are still standing.
When the Achaian league became powerful, its most efficient leader
was Aratos, a Sikyoniau, who freed his native city from the oppressive
sway of tyrants under Macedonian protection, and induced it to join
the league. After the destruction of Corinth by the Romans, Sikyon,
delivered from the rivalry of that city, increased in power and secured
the administration of the Isthmian games. The period of prosperity,
however, was of short duration. Roman cupidity was tempted by the
fact, tyranny was the usual rather than, as in other Hellenic communi-
ties, the exceptional form of government. One family of despots, the
Orthagoridai, held sway for a century, a circumstance without paral-
lel among Greek states. The government of this family was very
successful. They formed extensive commercial relations, carried on
victorious wars, encouraged artistic enterprises, and won chariot-vic-
tories for their city in the national games. The period of Kleisthenes
especially was one of the most flourishing in the history of Sikyon.'
Herodotos' story (vr. 126) of the marriage of the daughter of that
prince gives a picture of the contemporaneous importance of the city.
The Orthagoridai seem not to have belonged to the Dorian portion of
the people, and to have done everything in their power to repress the
citizens of that race. Kleisthenes went so far as to change the ancient
and venerated names of the three Dorian tribes and to force upon them
new and odious designations. But Kleisthenes was the last ruler of
his line, and it is probable that after his death there came a Dorian reac-
tion. At any rate, we find that Sikyon was a member of the Dorian
league during the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. During the strug-
gle between Sparta and Thebes the city suffered severely. It gradu-
ally lost its importance, became subject to Ptolemy, and finally fell into
the hands of Demetrios Poliorketes, who played a prominent part in
its later history. Previous to his time, the main portion of the city
stood in the plain at the foot of the large plateau upon which the
akropolis M as located. Probably for the reason that the population
had become so reduced in numbers as to be inadequate for the defense
of so large an extent of wall, Demetrios compelled the citizens to abandon
the town in the plain, and to build upon the acropolis. Upon the smaller
and somewhat more elevated plateau immediately behind the earlier
acropolis, he placed his own, fortifying the entire height, already by
nature almost impregnable, by means of a wall, considerable portions
of which are still standing.
When the Achaian league became powerful, its most efficient leader
was Aratos, a Sikyoniau, who freed his native city from the oppressive
sway of tyrants under Macedonian protection, and induced it to join
the league. After the destruction of Corinth by the Romans, Sikyon,
delivered from the rivalry of that city, increased in power and secured
the administration of the Isthmian games. The period of prosperity,
however, was of short duration. Roman cupidity was tempted by the