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Solon laid only the foundation of the Athenian democracy by giving the poorer classes a vote in the popular assembly； and by enlarging the power of the latter； but he left the government exclusively in the hands of the wealthy。 For many years after his time the government continued to be an oligarchy； but was exercised with more moderation and justice than formerly。
Solon enacted numerous laws； containing regulations on almost all subjects connected with the public and private life of the citizens。 He encouraged trade and manufactures； and invited foreigners to settle in Athens by the promise of protection and by valuable privileges。 To discourage idleness a son was not obliged to support his father in old age； if the latter had neglected to teach him some trade or occupation。
Solon punished theft by compelling the guilty party to restore double the value of the property stolen。 He forbade speaking evil either of the dead or of the living。
Solon is said to have been aware that he had left many imperfections in his laws。 He described them not as the best laws which he could devise； but as the best which the Athenians could receive。 Having bound the government and people of Athens by a solemn oath to observe his institutions for at least ten years； he left Athens and travelled in foreign lands。 During his absence the old dissensions between the Plain； the Shore； and the Mountain broke out afresh with more violence than ever。 The first was headed by Lycurgus； the second by Megacles； an Alcmaeonid； and the third by Pisistratus； the cousin of Solon。 Of these leaders； Pisistratus was the ablest and the most dangerous。 He had espoused the cause of the poorest of the three classes； in order to gain popularity； and to make himself master of Athens。 Solon on his return to Athens detected the ambitious designs of his kinsman； and attempted to disuade him from them。 Finding his remonstrances fruitless； he next denounced his projects in verses addressed to the people。 Few； however； gave any heed to his warnings： and Pisistratus； at length finding his schemes ripe for action； had recourse to a memorable strategem to secure his object。 One day he appeared in the market…place in a chariot； his mules and his own person bleeding with wounds inflicted with his own hands。 These he exhibited to the people； telling them that he had been nearly murdered in consequence of defending their rights。 The popular indignation was excited； and a guard of fifty clubmen was granted him for his future security。 He gradually increased the number of his guard and soon found himself strong enough to throw off the mask and seize the Acropolis （B。C。 560）。 Megacles and the Alcmaeonidae left the city。 Solon alone had the courage to oppose the usurpation； and upbraided the people with their cowardice and their treachery。 〃You might；〃 said he； 〃with ease have crushed the tyrant in the bud； but nothing now remains but to pluck him up by the roots。〃 But no one responded to his appeal。 He refused to fly； and when his friends asked him on what he relied for protection； 〃On my old age；〃 was his reply。 It is creditable to Pisistratus that he left his aged relative unmolested； and even asked his advice in the administration of the government。 Solon did not long survive the overthrow of the constitution。 He died a year or two afterwards at the advanced age of eighty。 His ashes are said to have been scattered by his own direction round the island of Salamis； which he had won for the Athenian people。
Pisistratus however did not retain his power long。 The leaders of the factions of the Shore and the Plain combined and drove the usurper into exile。 But the Shore and the Plain having quarrelled； Pisistratus was recalled and again became master of Athens。 Another revolution shortly afterwards drove him into exile a second time； and he remained abroad ten years。 At length； with the assistance of mercenaries from other Grecian states and with the aid of his partisans in Athens； he became master of Athens for the third time； and henceforth continued in possession of the supreme power till the day of his death。 As soon as he was firmly established in the government； his administration was marked by mildness and equity。 He maintained the institutions of Solon； taking care； however； that the highest offices should always be held by some members of his own family。 He not only enforced strict obedience to the laws； but himself set the example of submitting to them。 Being accused of murder； he disdained to take advantage of his authority； and went in person to plead his cause before the Areopagus； where his accuser did not venture to appear。 He courted popularity by largesses to the citizens and by throwing open his gardens to the poor。 He adorned Athens with many public buildings。 He commenced on a stupendous scale a temple to the Olympian Zeus； which remained unfinished for centuries； and was at length completed by the emperor Hadrian。 He was a patron of literature； as well as of the arts。 He is said to have been the first person in Greece who collected a library； which he threw open to the public； and to him posterity is indebted for the collection of the Homeric poems。 On the whole it cannot be denied that he made a wise and noble use of his power。
Pisistratus died at an advanced age in 527 B。C。； thirty…three years after his first usurpation。 He transmitted the sovereign power to his sons； Hippias and Hipparchus； who conducted the government on the same principles as their father。 Hipparchus inherited his father's literary tastes。 He invited several distinguished poets； such as Anacreon and Simonides； to his court。 The people appear to have been contented with their rule； and it was only an accidental circumstance which led to their overthrow and to a change in the government。
Their fall was occasioned by the conspiracy of Harmodius and Aristogiton； who were attached to each other by a most intimate friendship。 Harmodius having given offence to Hippias； the despot revenged himself by putting a public affront upon his sister。 This indignity excited the resentment of the two friends； and they now resolved to slay the despots at the festival of the Great Panathenaea； when all the citizens were required to attend in arms。 Having communicated their design to a few associates； the conspirators appeared armed at the appointed time like the rest of the citizens； but carrying concealed daggers besides。 Harmodius and Aristogiton had planned to kill Hippias first as he was arranging the order of the procession outside the city； but； upon approaching the spot where he was standing； they were thunderstruck at beholding one of the conspirators in close conversation with the despot。 Believing that they were betrayed； they rushed back into the city with their daggers hid in the myrtle boughs which they were to have carried in the procession； and killed Hipparchus。 Harmodius was immediately cut down by the guards。 Aristogiton died under the tortures to which he was subjected in order to compel him to disclose his accomplices。
Hipparchus was assassinated in B。C。 514； the fourteenth year after the death of Pisistratus。 From this time the character of the government became entirely changed。 His brother's murder converted Hippias into a cruel and suspicious tyrant。 He put to death numbers of the citizens； and raised large sums of money by extraordinary taxes。
The Alcmaeonidae； who had lived in exile ever since the third and final restoration of Pisistratus to Athens； now began to form schemes to expel the tyrant。 Clisthenes； the son of Megacles； who was the head of the family； secured the Delphian oracle by pecuniary presents to the Pythia； or priestess； henceforth； whenever the Spartans came to consult the oracle； the answer of the priestess was always the same； 〃Athens must be liberated。〃 This order was so often repeated； that the Spartans at last resolved to obey。 Cleomenes； king of Sparta； defeated the Thessalian allies of Hippias； and the tyrant； unable to meet his enemies in the field； took refuge in the Acropolis。 Here he might have maintained himself in safety； had not his children been made prisoners as they were being secretly car