Note 972 — Chapter VII · Corinth

“Cypselus was a demagogue and throughout his reign remained without a bodyguard: but Periander proved tyrannical but warlike,” Aristot. Pol. VII. (V.), 1315b, where Cypselus’ alleged demagogism is probably only a late inference from a genuine tradition that he was not a soldier: see chap I. p. 31. The passages quoted in the last note from Heraclides and Nicolaus go on at once to mention that Periander instituted an armed bodyguard, and Nicolaus adds that “he made repeated campaigns and was warlike.” This statement may be accepted though the context of the last passage shows that the picture of the tyrannical Periander is influenced by the conception of the tyrant as a military despot prevalent since Aristotle (see chap. I. pp. 28 f.). The maxim καλὸν ἡσυχία (peace is a good thing) is attributed to Periander by Diog. Laert. I. 7. 4, but such utterances are notoriously quite consistent with the most aggressive military policy.