22 Facts About Periander

Periander was the second tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty that ruled over ancient Corinth.

Periander's rule brought about a prosperous time in Corinth's history, as his administrative skill made Corinth one of the wealthiest city states in Greece.

Several accounts state that Periander was a cruel and harsh ruler, but others claim that he was a fair and just king who worked to ensure that the distribution of wealth in Corinth was more or less even.

Periander is often considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece, men of the 6th century BC who were renowned for centuries for their wisdom.

Periander was the second tyrant of Corinth and the son of Cypselus, the founder of the Cypselid dynasty.

Periander married Lyside, daughter of Procles and Eristenea of Epidaurus.

Greek historian Herodotus has alluded to suggestions that Periander had defiled the corpse of his wife, employing a metaphor: "Periander baked his bread in a cold oven".

When Periander was much older and looking to have his successor at his side, he sent for Lycophron.

The death of his son caused Periander to fall into a despondency that eventually led to his death.

Periander was succeeded by his nephew, Psammetichus, who ruled for just three years and was the last of the Cypselid tyrants.

Periander built Corinth into one of the major trading centers in Ancient Greece.

Periander established colonies at Potidaea in Chalcidice and at Apollonia in Illyria, conquered Epidaurus, formed positive relationships with Miletus and Lydia, and annexed Corcyra, where his son lived much of his life.

Periander is credited with inventing a transport system, the Diolkos, across the Isthmus of Corinth.

Tolls from goods entering Corinth's port accounted for nearly all the government revenues, which Periander used to build temples and other public works, and to promote literature and arts.

Periander had the poet Arion come from Lesbos to Corinth for an arts festival in the city.

Periander held many festivals and built many buildings in the Doric style.

Periander afterwards ordered four more to go in pursuit of the two, kill them and bury them; again, he dispatched a larger number in pursuit of the four.

Periander was said to be a patron of literature, who both wrote and appreciated early philosophy.

Periander is said to have written a didactic poem 2,000 lines long.

Periander is referenced by many contemporaries in relation to philosophy and leadership.

Some scholars have argued that the ruler named Periander was a different person from the sage of the same name.

Aristotle says, that it was the Corinthian Periander who was the wise one; but Plato contradicts him.