Megacles facts for kids

Megacles was a popular name for important men in ancient Athens, a powerful city in Greece. Several famous people named Megacles lived there. One Megacles was also a brave officer who served a king named Pyrrhus of Epirus.

Early Leaders Named Megacles

One of the earliest known Megacles was a legendary leader, called an archon, in Athens. He might have been in charge a very long time ago.

The Archon and Cylon

Another Megacles was a member of a powerful family called the Alcmaeonidae. He was a main leader, or archon, in 632 BC. During his time, a man named Cylon tried to take control of Athens. Cylon's attempt failed.

Some of Cylon's supporters sought safety at the Acropolis, a sacred place. Megacles was accused of harming these people, even though they were seeking protection. Because of this, Megacles and his whole family were sent away from Athens. This event caused a lasting "stain" or bad reputation on his family for many years.

Megacles: Opponent of Pisistratus

A later Megacles was the grandson of the archon mentioned above. He was also part of the Alcmaeonidae family. This Megacles was a strong opponent of Pisistratus, who wanted to rule Athens as a tyrant (a ruler who takes power by force).

Alliance and Trickery

Megacles managed to force Pisistratus out of Athens during his first time as ruler around 560 BC. But then, Megacles and Pisistratus made a deal. Pisistratus even married Megacles' daughter.

The ancient writer Herodotus tells a story about how they tricked the people of Athens. They dressed up a tall woman named Phye as the goddess Athena. They made it seem like Athena herself had come to announce that Pisistratus should be the ruler again. Herodotus himself wasn't sure if this story was true.

However, Megacles later turned against Pisistratus. This led to Pisistratus losing power for a second time.

Family Connections

This Megacles had earlier competed to marry a woman named Agarista, whose father was Cleisthenes of Sicyon. Megacles and Agarista had two sons. Their elder son, Hippocrates, had a daughter named Agariste. This younger Agariste became the mother of the very famous Athenian leader, Pericles. So, Megacles was the great-grandfather of Pericles.

Megacles and the Battle of Marathon

Another Megacles was the grandson of the Megacles who opposed Pisistratus. He was the son of Hippocrates and nephew of Cleisthenes, another important Athenian leader.

Suspicion After Battle

In 490 BC, after the famous Battle of Marathon where the Athenians defeated the Persians, something strange happened. A signal was supposedly made with a shield on Mount Pentelicon. This signal might have been meant to tell the Persians to sail around to Athens and attack the city, which was left unprotected.

Herodotus wrote that many people believed Megacles' family, the Alcmaeonidae, were behind this act of betrayal. Because Megacles was a leading figure in his family at the time, some suspicion of helping the Persians stayed with him.

Ostraka against Megacles

Ostracism and Wealth

In 486 BC, Megacles was ostracized. This meant that the citizens voted to send him away from Athens for ten years. Many pieces of pottery, called ostraca, have been found with his name on them. These ostraca often mentioned his great wealth and his love for fancy things.

Even while in exile, Megacles was honored by the poet Pindar for winning a chariot race at the Pythian Games in 486 BC.

Megacles of Epirus

Megacles of Epirus was a military officer who served King Pyrrhus of Epirus. He went with Pyrrhus on his military trip to Italy in 280 BC, during the Pyrrhic War.

Megacles is mentioned as being with Pyrrhus when they secretly checked out the Roman army camp before the battle of Heraclea. During that battle, Megacles bravely saved the king's life. He traded armor with Pyrrhus, making the Roman attackers focus on him instead of the king. Megacles died in this act of devotion, killed by a Roman soldier named Publius Decius Mus.

Images for kids

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  Ostraka against Megacles