Sosicles (statesman)
Encyclopedia
Sosicles was a Corinth
ian ambassador at the remarkable meeting of the allies of Sparta
at around 500 BC, before which the Spartans laid their proposal for restoring Hippias
to the tyranny of Athens. Sosicles remonstrated with indignant vehemence against the measure, and set forth the evils which Corinth had endured under the successive tyrannies of Cypselus
and Periander
. His appeal was successful with the allies, and the project was abandoned.
Herodotus
records the speech (Herod, v. 92, 93.; bk6 chs312-315). His record of it is probably not authentic as the meeting was secret and no Athenian could have heard. What is more likely is Herodotus using Sosicles to give an extended speech on the fault of tyranny and also to give a digression into Corinth's history.
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ian ambassador at the remarkable meeting of the allies of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
at around 500 BC, before which the Spartans laid their proposal for restoring Hippias
Hippias (son of Pisistratus)
Hippias of Athens was one of the sons of Peisistratus, and was tyrant of Athens in the 6th century BC.Hippias succeeded Peisistratus in 527 BC, and in 525 BC he introduced a new system of coinage in Athens. His brother Hipparchus, who may have ruled jointly with him, was murdered by Harmodius and...
to the tyranny of Athens. Sosicles remonstrated with indignant vehemence against the measure, and set forth the evils which Corinth had endured under the successive tyrannies of Cypselus
Cypselus
Cypselus was the first tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC.With increased wealth and more complicated trade relations and social structures, Greek city-states tended to overthrow their traditional hereditary priest-kings; Corinth, the richest archaic polis, led the way...
and Periander
Periander
Periander was the second tyrant of Corinth, Greece in the 7th century BC. He was the son of the first tyrant, Cypselus. Periander succeeded his father in 627 BC. He died in 585 BC....
. His appeal was successful with the allies, and the project was abandoned.
Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
records the speech (Herod, v. 92, 93.; bk6 chs312-315). His record of it is probably not authentic as the meeting was secret and no Athenian could have heard. What is more likely is Herodotus using Sosicles to give an extended speech on the fault of tyranny and also to give a digression into Corinth's history.