Cypselus the Bacchiad

Abstract

AT THE opening of the seventh century B.C., Corinth was ruled by a tightly knit aristocracy known collectively as the Bacchiads. According to legend or tradition, the Dorian or Heracleid state in Corinth had been founded by a certain Aletes, who became king. One of his successors was named Bacchis; the latter's rule was so distinguished that the royal family ever after was called Bacchiad instead of Heracleid. Finally a minor named Telestes came to the throne, but was displaced by his guardian and uncle, who was succeeded in turn by a man named Alexander (the uncle's son?). But Telestes murdered Alexander and reasserted his own royal rights, reigning for twelve years. Then Telestes was himself slain by his kinsmen, and Automenes ruled for a year. The Bacchiad family decided to dispense with kings; the whole family would rule jointly. We are also told that at that time the (adult male?) Bacchiads were more than two hundred in number; this number may be approximately correct, whether then or at some later time. After the downfall of the monarchy, the Bacchiads were accustomed each year to choose one of themselves as prytanis, who held the position (taxis) of king. This arrangement is said to have lasted for ninety years, until the oligarchy was displaced by the rule of Cypselus.1 One notes especially that this story explains how a family that claimed to be Heracleid was