Inspirational Quotes by Periander (Tyrant of Corinth)

Periander (c.625–585 BCE) was a tyrant of Corinth. He is commonly regarded as one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece.

The son and successor of Cypselus, the founder of the Cypselid dynasty of Corinth, Periander ruled from c.625 BCE until his death. A firm and capable ruler, he developed his city’s commercial and cultural potential and built the diolkos (“portage way”) across the Isthmus of Corinth. The commercial prosperity of Periander’s Corinth became so great that the tolls on goods entering its ports accounted for the lion’s share of his government revenues.

Under Periander, Corinth’s power and position in the Greek world developed further, and with significant commercial prosperity, he cultivated extensive links with foreign rulers. He founded colonies at Potidaea in Chalcidice and Apollonia in Illyria as well as conquered Epidaurus and Corcyra.

Periander is remembered by later tradition as an example of a repressive tyrant—this possibly derives from the Corinthian nobility, with whom he dealt harshly.

A patron of the arts, Periander composed a collection of two thousand maxims and is considered by many scholars to be one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Periander