Followers Of Cylon Of Athens Found In Ancient Mass Grave?

MessageToEagle.com – In 632 B.C. Cylon, a nobleman and former Olympic champion made an attempt to rule Athens.

As a winner of the Olympic Games, Cylon of Athens was respected by many and considered a hero. To become even more influential he married the daughter of Theagenes, a tyrant who had taken over control of the city of Megara.

Cylon was inspired by his father-in-law Theagenes for his actions in taking control of Megara, so much in fact that he enlisted Theagenes’ help to take over Athens. It is said that Cylon visited the Oracle at Delphi and was told to take control of Athens during the Festival of Zeus, which the Olympic Games were a part of. His coup is associated with the first reliably dated event in Athenian history, the Cylonian Affair.

However, his coup failed and his followers were forced to refuge in Athena’s temple on the Acropolis. His followers were persuaded by the Archons of Athens to leave the temple and stand trial. Cylon was promised his life would be spared if he appeared in court. However, shortly after Cylon and his men left the temple, they were stoned to death.

Historians consider this dramatic chapter in the story of ancient Athens shows the aristocracy’s resistance to the political transformation that would eventually herald in 2,500 years of Athenian democracy.

Now, archaeologists have discovered two mass graves near the Greek capital containing the skeletons of 80 men who may have been followers of Cylon of Athens.

Scientists date the graves from between 675 and 650 BC, “a period of great political turmoil in the region. Among the skeletons two small vases were also found.

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The skeletons were found lined up, some on their backs and others on their stomachs. A total of 36 had their hands bound with iron.

They were discovered during excavations at an ancient cemetery on Athens’ seaside outskirts, on the construction site of the new National Library of Greece and National Opera.

Archaeologists found the teeth of the men to be in good condition, indicating they were young and healthy.

This boosts the theory that they could have been followers of Cylon of Athens.

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