Editing Sicyon

{{Short description|Ancient Greek city}}
{{For-multi|the modern municipality|Sikyona|the eponymous figure in Greek mythology|Sicyon (mythology)}} 
[[File:Sikyon, Greece (23187324446).jpg|thumb|260px|Ruins of Sicyon]]

'''Sicyon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|ʃ|i|ˌ|ɒ|n|,_|ˈ|s|ɪ|s|-}}; {{langx|el|Σικυών}}; ''gen''.: Σικυῶνος) or '''Sikyōn''' was an [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] [[polis|city state]] situated in the northern [[Peloponnesus]] between [[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]] and [[Achaea (ancient region)|Achaea]] on the territory of the present-day regional unit of [[Corinthia]]. The ruins lie just west of the modern village of [[Sikyona]] (previously Vasiliko). An ancient monarchy at the times of the [[Trojan War]], the city was ruled by a number of tyrants during the Archaic and Classical period and became a democracy in the 3rd century BC. Sicyon was celebrated for its contributions to ancient Greek art, producing many famous painters and sculptors. In Hellenistic times it was also the home of [[Aratus of Sicyon]], the leader of the [[Achaean League]].

==Ancient history==
[[File:Korinth Isthmus de.png|thumb|right|Location of Sicyon]]
[[File:Sikyon ancient theatre.jpg|thumb|right|The ancient theatre of Sikyon today]]
[[File:Sikyon doric temple.jpg|thumb|right|Excavation site of a Doric temple in Sikyon]]

Sicyon was built on a low triangular [[plateau]] about 3 kilometres (two miles) from the [[Corinthian Gulf]]. Between the city and its port lay a fertile plain with [[olive]] groves and orchards.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Sicyon |volume=25 |page=37 |inline=1 |first=Maximilian |last=Caspari}}</ref>

In [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenean times]], according to Eusebius, Sicyon had been ruled by a line of twenty-six mythical kings and then seven priests of Apollo. The king-list given by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]<ref>Pausanias 2.5.6-6.7.</ref> comprises twenty-four kings, beginning with the [[indigenous peoples|autochthonous]] [[Aegialeus (king of Sicyon)|Aegialeus]]. The penultimate king of the list, [[Agamemnon]], compels the submission of Sicyon to [[Mycenae]]; after him comes the [[Dorians|Dorian]] usurper [[Phalces]]. Pausanias shares his source with [[Castor of Rhodes]], who used the king-list in compiling tables of history; the common source was convincingly identified by [[Felix Jacoby]]<ref>[[Felix Jacoby]] on Castor in ''[[Fragmente der griechischen Historiker|Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker]]'' 250 F 2, noted with approval by Robertson 1999:65 and note 36.</ref> as a lost ''Sicyonica'' by the late 4th-century poet [[Menaechmus of Sicyon]].

After the [[Dorian invasion]] the city remained subject to [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]], whence its Dorian conquerors had come. The community was now divided into the ordinary three Dorian tribes and an equally privileged tribe of [[Ionians]], besides which a class of [[serf]]s ({{lang|grc|κορυνηφόροι}}, {{Transliteration|grc|korynēphóroi}} or {{lang|grc|κατωνακοφόροι}}, {{Transliteration|grc|katōnakophóroi}}) lived on and worked the land.<ref name=EB1911/>

For some centuries the suzerainty of Argos remained, but after 676 BC Sicyon regained its independence under a line of tyrants called the Orthagorides after the name of the first ruler [[Orthagoras]]. The most important however was the founder's grandson [[Cleisthenes of Sicyon|Cleisthenes]], the grandfather of the Athenian legislator [[Cleisthenes]], who ruled from 600 to 560 BC.<ref>Herodotus 6.121</ref> Besides reforming the city's constitution to the advantage of the Ionians and replacing Dorian cults with the worship of [[Dionysus]], Cleisthenes gained a reputation as the chief instigator and general of the [[First Sacred War]] (590 BC) in the interests of the [[Delphi]]ans.<ref name=EB1911/>

His successor Aeschines was expelled by the Spartans in 556 BC and Sicyon became an ally of the Lacedaemonians for more than a century. During this time, the Sicyonians developed the various industries for which they were known in antiquity. As the abode of the sculptors [[Dipoenus and Scyllis]] it gained pre-eminence in woodcarving and bronze work such as is still to be seen in the archaic metal facings found at [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]. Its pottery, which resembled [[Corinthian ware]], was exported with the latter as far as [[Etruria]]. In Sicyon also the art of [[painting]] was supposed to have been invented. After the fall of the tyrants their institutions survived until the end of the 6th century BC, when Dorian supremacy was re-established, perhaps by the agency of [[Sparta]]  under the [[ephor]] [[Chilon]], and the city was enrolled in the [[Peloponnesian League]]. Henceforth, its policy was usually determined either by [[Sparta]] or [[Corinth]].<ref name=EB1911/>

During the [[Persian Wars]], the Sicyonians participated with fifteen triremes in the [[Battle of Salamis]] and with 3,000 hoplites in the [[Battle of Plataea]]. On the [[Delphi]]c [[Serpent Column]] celebrating the victory Sicyon was named in fifth place after Sparta, Athens, Corinth and Tegea. In September 479 BC a Sicyonian contingent fought bravely in the [[Battle of Mycale]], where they lost more men than any other city.

Later in the 5th century BC, Sicyon, like Corinth, suffered from the commercial rivalry of [[Athens]] in the western seas, and was repeatedly harassed by squadrons of Athenian ships.<ref name=EB1911/> The Sicyonians fought two battles against the Athenians, first against their admiral [[Tolmides]] in 455 BC and then in a land battle against [[Pericles]] with 1000 hoplites in 453 BC.

In the [[Peloponnesian War]] Sicyon followed the lead of Sparta and Corinth. When these two powers quarrelled during the [[peace of Nicias]], it remained loyal to the Spartans.<ref name=EB1911/> At the reprise of the war, during the [[Sicilian expedition|Athenian expedition in Sicily]], the Sicyonians contributed 200 pressed hoplites under their commander Sargeus to the force that relieved [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]]. At the beginning of the 4th century, in the [[Corinthian war]], Sicyon sided again with Sparta and became its base of operations against the allied troops round Corinth.<ref name=EB1911/>

In 369 BC Sicyon was captured and garrisoned by the [[Thebes, Greece|Theban]]s in their successful attack on the Peloponnesian League.<ref name=EB1911/> From 368 to 366 BC Sicyon was ruled by [[Euphron]] who first favoured democracy, but then made himself tyrant. Euphron was killed in [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] by a group of Sicyonian aristocrats, but his compatriots buried him in his home town and continued to honour him like the second founder of the city.

{{Coin image box 1 double
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| image = Image:Sikyon x.jpg
| caption_left = '''[[Obverse and reverse|O:]]''' walking [[Chimera (mythology)|chimera]]; ΣΙ below
| caption_right = '''[[Obverse and reverse|R:]]'''flying [[dove]]; pellet above
| width = 300
| footer = [[silver]] [[Dram (unit)|hemidrachm]] struck in Sicyon 360–330 BC
ref.: BMC 124, Sear sg2774, SNG Cop. 64/65
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During the 4th century BC, the city reached its zenith as a centre of art: its school of painting gained fame under [[Eupompus]] and attracted the great masters [[Pamphilus (painter)|Pamphilus]] and [[Apelles]] as students, while [[Lysippus]] and his pupils raised the Sicyonian sculpture to a level hardly surpassed anywhere else in Greece.<ref name=EB1911/> The tyrant [[Aristratus of Sicyon|Aristratus]], a friend of the [[Philipp II of Macedon|Macedonian royal family]], had himself portrayed by the painter [[Melanthius]] aside the goddess of victory [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] on a chariot. In this period Sicyon was the undisputed center of Greek painting with its school attracting famous artists from all over Greece, including the celebrated [[Apelles]] and [[Pausias]].

In 323 BC [[Euphron the Younger]], a grandson of the tyrant Euphron, reintroduced a democracy, but was soon conquered by the [[Macedon]]ians during the [[Lamian War]]. When the Macedonian commander [[Alexander (son of Polyperchon)|Alexander]] was murdered in Sicyon in 314 BC, his wife [[Cratesipolis]] took control of the city and ruled it for six years, until she was induced by king [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy I]] to hand it over to the Egyptians. Between 308 and 303 BC Sicyon was ruled by two Ptolemaic commanders, first Cleonides and then Philip.

In 303 BC Sicyon was conquered by [[Demetrius Poliorcetes]] who razed the ancient city in the plain and built a new wall on the ruins of the old Acropolis on the high triangular plateau which resulted sufficient for the reduced populace. The new agora was adorned by a "Painted Stoa" attributed to the king's mistress [[Lamia of Athens|Lamia]], a flute player. For a short time the town was now called "Demetrias", but eventually the old name prevailed.

Demetrius left a garrison in the castle to control the city, and the commander [[Cleon of Sicyon|Cleon]] established another tyrannical regime. After some twenty years he was killed by two rivals, [[Euthydemus (tyrant)|Euthydemus]] and [[Timocleidas]], who became the new joint tyrants of Sicyon. Their rule ended, probably around the start of the [[Chremonidean War]] in 267 BC, when they were expelled by the people who elected their leader Cleinias to govern the city on a democratic ground. Two magistrates of these years were the [[Hieromnemos|hieromnemoi]] Sosicles and Euthydamos, known from an inscription at [[Delphi]]. The democratic government's most important achievement was the construction of the [[gymnasium (ancient Greece)|gymnasium]] which is attributed to Cleinias. During the same time [[Xenokrates of Sicyon]] published his history of art which contributed to spreading the fame of Sicyon as an undisputed capital of ancient art.

Even this time democracy did not last more than a few years, and in 264 BC Cleinias was slain by his cognate [[Abantidas]], who established his tyranny for twelve years. In 252 BC Abantidas was murdered by two rhetoricians, [[Aristotle the Dialectician]] and [[Deinias of Argos]], and his father [[Paseas]] took over, only to be murdered after a short rule by another rival named [[Nicocles (Sicyon)|Nicocles]].

In 251, [[Aratus of Sicyon]], the 20-year-old son of Cleinias, conquered the city with a night assault and expelled the last tyrant. Aratus re-established democracy, called back the exiles and brought his city into the [[Achaean League]]. This move ended the internal strife and Aratus remained the leading figure of Achaean politics until his death in 213 BC, during a period of great achievements. The prosperity and peaceful condition of Sicyon was only interrupted by an [[Aetolia]]n raid in 241 BC and an unsuccessful siege at the hands of king [[Cleomenes III]] of Sparta in early 224 BC.

As a member of the Achaean federation Sicyon remained a stable democracy until the dissolution of the League by the Romans in 146 BC. In this period Sicyon was damaged by two disastrous earthquakes in 153 BC and 141 BC.

The destruction of Corinth (146 BC) brought Sicyon an acquisition of territory and the presidency over the [[Isthmian games]]; yet in [[Cicero]]'s time it had fallen deep into debt. Under the [[Roman empire]] it was quite obscured by the restored cities of Corinth and [[Patrae]]; in [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]' age (150 AD) it was almost desolate.

==Mentions in literary works==
In the 4th century BC the people of Sicyon were the subject of a popular comedy by [[Menander]] titled [[Sikyonioi]].

[[William Shakespeare]], in his 1606 play ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' (Act I, Scene 2), notes that [[Marc Antony]]'s wife, [[Fulvia]] died in Sicyon.  Historically, she died there in 40 BC while in rebellion against Octavius Caesar.

[[Friedrich Hölderlin]]'s novel ''[[Hyperion (Hölderlin novel)|Hyperion]]'' from 1797 starts at the "paradisiac plain of Sicyon".

== Ancient monuments ==
* Temple of Apollo or Artemis
* Theatre of Sikyon
* Palaestra - Gymnasium
* Stadium of Sikyon
* Bouleuterion of Sikyon

== Medieval history ==
During the early Middle Ages, Sikyon continued to decline. It became a bishop's seat and, judging by its later designation "Hellas," it appears to have become a haven for populations seeking refuge from the settlement of [[Slavs|Slavic]] groups in Greece during the 7th century.<ref name=EB1911/> Following the [[Fourth Crusade]], the settlement, then known as Vasilika (Basilikata), came under the control of the [[Principality of Achaia]] and became part of the prince's domain. A castle was erected atop the ruined ancient acropolis by Prince [[William of Villehardouin]] (1246–1278), to complement the defenses of Corinth.<ref>Bon 1969: 104, 476, 482.</ref> By 1369, many villages in the vicinity of Vasilika were abandoned due to the raids of Turkish pirates.<ref>Topping 1975: 138.</ref> Together with Corinth, Vasilika was acquired by the Florentine in Angevin service [[Niccolò Acciaioli]], from whom it passed to Donato Acciaioli in 1362. Donato's son Angelo Acciaioli mortgaged Corinth and Vasilika to his cousin [[Nerio I Acciaioli]], the future [[Duchy of Athens|duke of Athens]], by 1372.<ref>Bon 1969: 250.</ref> When Nerio died in 1394, Corinth and Vasilika were inherited by his daughter, [[Francesca Acciaioli]], who had recently married [[Carlo I Tocco]], the [[County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos|count palatine of Cephalonia and Zante]]. These provisions were contested by Nerio's other daughter, [[Bartolomea Acciaioli]], and her husband, Despot [[Theodore I Palaiologos]] of [[Despotate of the Morea|the Morea]]. Following the ensuing conflict, Francesca and Carlo were only able to retain Vasilika and Megara, while Corinth passed to the Despot Theodore.<ref>Bon 1969: 270; Topping 1975: 158.</ref> Finally, Despot [[Theodore II Palaiologos]] of the Morea seized Vasilika in 1427, alongside other gains from the Principality of Achaia.<ref>Bon 1969: 481.</ref> The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] invaded and subjugated Corinth and Vasilika, alongside other northern Moreot towns and fortresses, in 1458, two years before completing the conquest of the Morea in 1460–1461.<ref>Fine 1987: 565.</ref>

A village named until 1920 ''Vasiliko'' (described by the 1911 ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' as "insignificant") lies next to the site of ancient and medieval Sikyon. It is now named [[Sikyona]], reflecting the name of the ancient city.

==Mythological rulers==
Kings largely according to Eusebius's chronicle and other Greco-Roman sources are:
# [[Aegialeus (King of Sicyon)|Aegialeus]]
# [[Europs (mythology)|Europs]]
# [[Telchis]]
# [[Apis of Sicyon]]
# [[Thelxion of Sicyon]]
# [[Aegyrus]]
# [[Thurimachus]]
# [[Leucippus (son of Thurimachus)|Leucippus]]
# [[Messapus of Sicyon|Messapus]]
# [[Peratus|Eratus]]
# [[Plemnaeus]]
# [[Orthopolis]]
# [[Marathonius]] or [[Coronus (mythology)|Coronus]]
# [[Marathon (mythology)|Marathus]]
# Echyreus or alternatively [[Coronus (mythology)|Coronus]] (which claims descent from Orthopolis according to Pausanias)
# [[Corax (mythology)|Corax]]
# [[Epopeus of Sicyon]]
# [[Lamedon (mythology)|Lamedon]]
# [[Sicyon (mythology)|Sicyon]]
# [[Polybus of Sicyon]] (succeeded by Adrastus according to Pausanias)
# Inachus
# Phaestus
# [[Adrastus]]
# [[Zeuxippus of Sicyon]] (some sources see as direct succession of Phaestus)
# Pelasgus
# [[Polypheides]], lord Before Agammemnon
Seven priests of Apollo Carneius ruled that follow these kings as rulers according to Eusebius are:
# Archelaus, who ruled one year.
# Automedon, one year.
# Theoclytus, four years.
# Euneus, six years.
# Theonomus, nine years.
# Amphigyes, twelve years.
# Charidemus, one year. He could not bear the expense, and went into exile. He was priest 352 years before the first Olympiad (i.e. 1128 BCE).

The list of Orthagorides goes as follows:

*Orthagoras:founder of the dynasty	Fought in the city of [[Pellene]]
*Myron:	Won the 648 Olympic Games
*Aristonymos:Reigned briefly
*Myron II::debauched, was murdered
*Isodeme:dethroned after two years of reign
*[[Cleisthenes of Sicyon|Cleisthenes]]:The most famous member of the dynasty, he died childless, ending the dynasty.

== Notable people ==
'''Ancient'''
*[[Aegialeus (king of Sicyon)|Aegialeus]] (21st century BC) legendary founder<ref>As displayed on the [[Wallchart of World History]], Sicyon was founded in 2081 BC by Aegialus</ref>
*[[Tellis of Sicyon|Tellis]] (8th century BC), runner (Olympic victor 708 BC)
*[[Butades]] (7th century BC) sculptor
*[[Canachus]] (6th century BC) sculptor
*[[Aristocles (sculptors)|Aristocles]] (5th century BC) sculptor
*[[Praxilla]] (5th century BC) poet
*[[Ariphron]] (5th century BC) poet
*[[Alypus]] (5th to 4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Alexis (sculptor)|Alexis]] (5th or 4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Eupompus]] (4th century BC) painter
*[[Pamphilus (painter)|Pamphilus]] (4th century BC) painter
*[[Melanthius]] (4th century BC) painter
*[[Pausias]] (4th century BC) painter
*[[Eutychides]] (4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Lysippos]] (4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Lysistratus]] (4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Sostrates of Sicyon|Sostrates]] (4th century BC) pankratiast (thrice Olympic champion)
*[[Canachus the Younger]] (4th century BC) sculptor
*[[Xenokrates of Sicyon|Xenokrates]] (3rd century BC) sculptor and art historian
*[[Machon]] (3rd century BC) playwright
*[[Timanthes of Sicyon|Timanthes]] (3rd century BC) painter
*[[Nealkes]] (3rd century BC) painter
*[[Anaxandra]] (3rd century BC) painter
*[[Pythocles of Sicyon|Pythocles]] (3rd century BC), runner (Olympic victor 236 BC)
*[[Aratus of Sicyon]] (271–213 BC) strategos of the Achaean League
*[[Baccheidas]], a dancer and teacher of music<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DB%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dbaccheidas-bio-1 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Baccheidas]</ref><ref>[[Deipnosophistae]],[https://www.attalus.org/old/athenaeus14b.html book XIV, Pages 628-638]</ref>
*[[Daetondas of Sicyon]], sculptor who made a statue of an Elean boxing athlete [[Theotimos|Theotimus]]<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DD%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Ddaetondas-bio-1 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Daetondas]</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D17%3Asection%3D5 Pausanias 6.17.5]</ref>
*[[Bycelus]], Olympic victor,Who was the first Sicyonian to win the boys' boxing-match.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.%206.13.7&lang=original Pausanias, Description of Greece, 6.13.7]</ref>

'''Modern'''
*[[Sotirios Krokidas]], jurist and PM

==Mythology: Identification with Mecone==
Sicyon has been traditionally identified with the mythical Mecone or Mekone,<ref>page 116, M.L. West, The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 122 (2002), pp. 109-133 (25 pages) Published by: The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies</ref><ref>'' Themis'', Jane Ellen Harrison, page 373 https://archive.org/details/themisstudyofsoc00harr/page/372 retrieved 4/02/2019</ref> site of the [[trick at Mecone]] carried out by Prometheus. Mecone is also described by [[Callimachus]] as "the seat of the gods", and as the place where the brother deities [[Zeus]], [[Poseidon]] and [[Hades]] cast lots for what part of the world each would rule.<ref>Quoted st page 115, M.L. West, The Journal of Hellenic Studies Vol. 122 (2002), pp. 109-133</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of ancient Greek cities]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Bon, A., ''La Morée franque. Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d'Achaïe,'' Bibliothèques de l'Ecole française d'Athènes et de Rome - Série Athènes,  1969.
* Fine, J., ''The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest,'' Ann Arbor, 1987.
* Topping, P., The Morea, 1311–1364 and The Morea, 1364-1460, in K. Setton and H. W. Hazard (eds.), ''A History of the Crusades'', vol. 3, Madison, 1975: 104-140 and 141-166.

==External links==
{{commons category|Sicyon}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150302234003/http://www.sikyon.com/Sicyon/sicyon_egpg1.html "Sicyon: The most ancient Greek city-state (via archive.org)"], Ellen Papakyriakou/Anagnostou. Contains a great deal of information on ancient and present-day Sicyon.
*[http://www.whitman.edu/theatre/theatretour/sicyon/sicyon.home.htm "The Greco-Roman Theatre at Sicyon"], The Ancient Theatre Archive. Theatre specifications and tour of the ancient theatre.

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[[Category:Sicyon| ]]
[[Category:Greek city-states]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Greece]]
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