ARISTOCRACY

From Agepedia

ARISTOCRACY. (See Government.) ARISTOGITON; a citizen of Athens, whose name is rendered famous by a conspiracy formed, in conjunction with his friend Harmodius, against the tyrants Hippias and Hipparchus, the sons of Pisistratus. They succeeded in killing Hipparchus (514 B. C); but, not being seconded by the people, Harmodius was despatched by the guards, and a. secured. Hippias instituted a severe inquisition into the plot, and tortured A. to discover his accomplices ; upon which he is reported to have named all the best friends of the tyrant in succession, and they were immediately put to death. On being asked by Hippias if there were any more, " There now remains," said Aristogiton, with a smile, " only thyself worthy of death." Hippias being expelled three years after, the Athenians paid the greatest honors to the two friends Harmodius and Aristogiton, placing in the forum their statues by Praxiteles, singing hymns to their praise at the Panathensea, and decreeing that no slave should ever bear their names. (See Plutarch and Thucydides.)