Histories

Afterwards they departed to Sigeum on the Scamander. They had ruled the Athenians for thirty-six years[*](From 545 to 509.) and were in lineage of the house of Pylos [21.7083,36.9167] (Perseus) Pylos and Neleus, born of the same ancestors as the families of Codrus and Melanthus, who had formerly come from foreign parts to be kings of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens.

It was for this reason that Hippocrates gave his son the name Pisistratus as a remembrance, calling him after Pisistratus the son of Nestor.

This is the way, then, that the Athenians got rid of their tyrants. As regards all the noteworthy things which they did or endured after they were freed and before Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia revolted from Darius and Aristagoras of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens to ask help of its people, of these I will first give an account.

Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, which had been great before, now grew even greater when her tyrants had been removed. The two principal holders of power were Cleisthenes an Alcmaeonid, who was reputed to have bribed the Pythian priestess, and Isagoras son of Tisandrus, a man of a notable house but his lineage I cannot say. His kinsfolk, at any rate, sacrifice to Zeus of +Caria [28,37.5] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Caria.

These men with their factions fell to contending for power, Cleisthenes was getting the worst of it in this dispute and took the commons into his party.[*](For a comprehension of the reform briefly recorded by Herodotus, readers are referred to Grote, ch. xxxi.) Presently he divided the Athenians into ten tribes instead of four as formerly. He called none after the names of the sons of Ion—Geleon, Aegicores, Argades, and Hoples—but invented for them names taken from other heroes, all native to the country except Aias. Him he added despite the fact that he was a stranger because he was a neighbor and an ally.