Cylon
Cylon
(sī`län), fl. 7th cent. B.C., Athenian nobleman. After a triumph in the Olympic games, Cylon, at the instigation and with the support of his father-in-law, Theagenes, the tyrant of Megara, attempted to establish himself as tyrant of Athens by seizing the Acropolis. The Athenians crushed the revolt; his followers who had sought sanctuary in Athena's temple were killed. Megacles, who had ordered the killings, and the AlcmaeonidaeAlcmaeonidae, Athenian family powerful in the 7th, 6th, and 5th cent. B.C. Blamed for the murder of the followers of the would-be tyrant Cylon (c.632 B.C.), which had been ordered by Megacles, an archon who was a member of the family, they were considered attainted and were
..... Click the link for more information. were exiled for the murders.
Cylon
Lived in the seventh century B.C. He led an unsuccessful conspiracy in Athens circa 640 in an attempt to seize power (Cylon’s uprising). Cylon and his brother managed to escape. His supporters, however, were surrounded by Athenians headed by the archon Megacles (of the Alcmaeonid family) and were murdered at the altar of Athena on the Acropolis. The Alcmaeonid family was put under a curse in Athens for “profaning” a sacred place.