A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. Of Naxos, was a distinguished leader of the popular party of the island in their struggle with the oligarchy. He conquered the latter, and obtained thereby the chief power in the state. With the means thus at his disposal, he assisted Peisistratus in his third return to Athens; but during his absence his enemies seem to have got the upper hand again; for Peisistratus afterwards subdued the island, and made Lygdamis tyrant of it, about B. C. 540. He also committed to the care of Lygdamis those Athenians whom he had taken as hostages. Lygdamis is mentioned again in B. C. 532 as assisting Polycrates in obtaining the tyranny of Samos. He was one of the tyrants whom the Lacedaemonians put down, perhaps in their expedition against Polycrates, B. C. 525. (Aristot. Pol. 5.5; Athen. 8.348; Hdt. 1.61, 64; Polyaen. 1.23.2; Plut. Apophth. Lac. 64.)