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Clisthenes Biography

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CLISTHENES. An Athenian statesman, son of Megacles and Agariste, daughter of Clisthenes of Sicyon. He was, on his father's side, a member of the celebrated family of the Alcmæonidæ (q.v.). He took a prominent part in the expulsion of Hippias in 510 B.C. When Isagoras (q.v.), the head of the oligarchical party at Athens, called in Cleomenes I (q.v.), King of Sparta, Clisthenes, with 700 heads of families, was forced to retire from the city, but was afterward recalled. He made important changes in the Athenian Constitution, which he rendered more democratic. The basis of his reform was the redistribution of the people; instead of four tribes, or phylæ, which had previously existed, he made the number 10, and distributed among these the demes into which the Attic territory was divided. For the nature of these arrangements and their purpose, see ATHENS, History. He also instituted ostracism, and, according to Ælian, was the first to suffer therefrom.

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. V (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 468.