A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Χαιρέας).

1. An Athenian, son of Archestratus, was sent by the people of Samos and the Athenian armament there stationed (who were ignorant of the overthrow of the democracy at Athens by the Four Hundred) to report the defeat of a late attempt at an oligarchical revolution in the island, B. C. 411. The crew of the ship were arrested, on their arrival at Athens, by the new government; but Chaereas himself escaping, returned to Samos, and, by his exaggerated accounts of the tyranny of the oligarchs, led to the strong measures which ensued in favour of democracy under Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus. (Thuc. 8.74, 86.)