Periander of Corinth

Periander of Corinth was one of the Seven Sages of Greece. He was the son of the tyrant, Cypselus, and continued hiss father’s policies. Through his tyrannical ways Periander did increase the prosperity, arts, and architecture of Corinth. During his reign, Corinth founded three new colonies, Potidea at Chalcidice and Epidamnos and Apollonia, north of the island of Corkyra. He attempted to cut a canal through the Isthmos, but this task was beyond the technology of his day. He instead constructed the Diolkos, a tiled passage way overland to carry light ships and cargo between seas. Corinthians made the important re-discovery of roofing tiles, which became present across Greek architecture.

In order to keep his citizens from plotting against him, Periander had laws limiting the number slaves that a man can own. This served the purpose of limiting the amount of idleness in his citizens’ lives. Periander also forbade his citizens from living beyond their wealth and excessive luxury.

Periander was married to Melissa, daughter of Procles (tyrant of Epidaurus). Periander put his wife to death after believing rumors from his concubines, which he later burned them, once he discovered the truth. When Lykophron, Periander and Melissa’s youngest son, found out the reason behind his mother’s death, Lykophron separated himself from his father. Eventually, Periander sent his son to Corkyra. As Periander grew older, he tried to bring Lykophron back. Lykophron only accepted to rule Corinth, when his father promised him, that he would come to stay in Corkyra, in his place. When this was learned by Corkyreans they put Lykophron to death. Periander punished the Corkyreans for the death of his son, by killing 50 Corkyreans and sending 300 of their children to Lydia to become eunuchs, but at the island of Samos the people gave them sanctuary in the temple of Artemis.

Periander died in 586 BC and was succeeded by Psammetichus.


Periander