(A similar story is told of Peisistratus, who
is said on one occasion to have allowed himself to be summoned and
tried before the Areopagus.)
Next in duration to the tyranny of Orthagoras was that of the
Cypselidae at Corinth, which lasted seventy-three years and six
months: Cypselus reigned thirty years, Periander forty and a half, and
Psammetichus the son of Gorgus three. Their continuance was due to
similar causes: Cypselus was a popular man, who during the whole
time of his rule never had a bodyguard; and Periander, although he was
a tyrant, was a great soldier. Third in duration was the rule of the
Peisistratidae at Athens, but it was interrupted; for Peisistratus was
twice driven out, so that during three and thirty years he reigned
only seventeen; and his sons reigned eighteen-altogether thirty-five
years. Of other tyrannies, that of Hiero and Gelo at Syracuse was
the most lasting. Even this, however, was short, not more than
eighteen years in all; for Gelo continued tyrant for seven years,
and died in the eighth; Hiero reigned for ten years, and Thrasybulus
was driven out in the eleventh month. In fact, tyrannies generally
have been of quite short duration.
I have now gone through almost all the causes by which
constitutional governments and monarchies are either destroyed or
preserved.
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