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Unearthing a tyrant
And here is the weird thing. Polykrates is the greatest figure in Samian history. The Late Archaic age is the only time when the island could be considered a great power. And the archaeological imprint is truly awesome. Yet our local minibus driver didn’t even know the way to the ancient walls!
In his day, he was one of the most powerful figures in the Mediterranean. But you’ve probably never heard of him. I’d only really come across him once, and it was years ago, when he amounted to nothing more than a passing reference. I’m talking about Polykrates of Samos.
He popped up when I was studying A-level Ancient History under Richard Gosling – one of those schoolteachers whose infectious enthusiasm can inspire a lifetime’s commitment in the occasional student. (Without Richard, I wouldn’t be here writing this now.)
Polykrates got mentioned because, like Peisistratos of Athens, he was one of a class of authoritarian rulers – the Greek word was ‘tyrant’ – who c
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