Harmodios and Aristogeiton Historical Figure Nationality: Athens Religion: Polytheism Date of Birth: Harmodios: 530 BC Aristogeiton: 550 BC Date of Death: Both: 514 BC Cause of Death: Harmodios-Spear to the chest Aristogeiton-Sword strike Turtledove Appearances: "The Daimon" POD: 415 BC Type of Appearance: posthumous reference "Counting Potsherds" POD: 483 BC Type of Appearance: Posthumous reference

Harmodios (c. 530-514 BC) and Aristogeiton (c. 550-514 BC), known as "the Liberators" and "the Tyrannicides", became heroes in Athens through their role in the overthrow of the Tyranny of the Peisistratid family, specifically the slaying of Hipparkhos. They were the first two Greeks considered by their countrymen worthy of having statues raised to them.

Ironically, modern scholarship has concluded that Hipparkhos was not a tyrant, but that his brother Hippias was, and actually become a cruel ruler after the death of Hipparkhos. Only after Hippias was overthrown were Harmodios and Aristogeiton lionized, and Hipparkhos described as a tyrant.

Harmodios and Aristogeiton in "The Daimon"Edit

When Alkibiades took Athens, Kritias publically denounced him as a tyrant while standing near the statues of Harmodios and Aristogeiton. He was promptly stabbed to death.^[1] Shortly after, Sokrates stood near the same spot to denounce Alkibiades as well, even though he knew he was signing his own death-warrant.^[2]

Harmodios and Aristogeiton in "Counting Potsherds"Edit

Mithredath and Polydoros found the base of the statue to Harmodios and Aristogeiton in the ruins of the Athenian marketplace. Polydoros translated the inscription as "Harmodios and Aristogeiton, those who slew the tyrant Hipparkhos". Polydoros explained that a tyrant was a ruler of a city who was not of a kingly line. Mithredath thought it was madness for a city to honor the slayers of a ruler.^[3]

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