Miltiades the Elder

Miltiades the Elder (Greek: Μιλτιάδης ὁ Πρεσβύτερος; died c. 519 BCE) was a member of an immensely wealthy Athenian noble family, the Philaids. He is said to have opposed the tyrant Peisistratus, which may explain why he left Athens around 555 BCE to found a colony in the Thracian Chersonese (now the Gallipoli Peninsula). The colony was semi-independent of Athens and was ruled by Miltiades until his death around 519 BCE. He died childless, leaving his lands to Stesagoras, the son of his half-brother Cimon the Elder. Before his death he fortified the peninsula, building a wall across it to defend against incursions by hostile native peoples. His step-nephew, Miltiades the Younger, later became tyrant of the Thracian Chersonese. Named after his uncle, the junior Miltiades is best known for his victory over the Persians at Marathon. The Philaid dynasty was continued by his son, Cimon the Younger. The name "Miltiades" derives from miltos, a red ochre clay used as paint. It was a name often given to red-haired babies.

Miltiades

Miltiades (/mɪlˈtaɪəˌdiːz/; Greek: Μιλτιάδης; c. 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was the son of Cimon Coalemos, a renowned Olympic chariot-racer. He was an Athenian citizen and considered himself a member of the Aeacidae, as well as a member of the prominent Philaid clan. He is known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his rather tragic downfall afterwards. His son Cimon was a major Athenian figure of the 470s and 460s BCE. His daughter Elpinice is remembered for her confrontations with Pericles, as recorded by Plutarch.

Tyrant of the Thracian Chersonese

Miltiades was a well-born Athenian who came of age during the tyranny of the Peisistratids. His family was prominent, due in good part to their success with Olympic chariot-racing. Plutarch claimed that Cimon, his father, was known as "Coalemos," meaning simpleton, because he had a reputation for being rough around the edges. But his 3 successive chariot-racing victories at the Olympics made him popular; so popular, in fact, that Herodotus claims the Peisistratids murdered him out of jealousy. Miltiades was named after his father's maternal half-brother, Miltiades the Elder, who was also a victor at Olympic chariot-racing. (The name "Miltiades" derives from miltos, a red ochre clay used as paint. It was a name often given to red-haired babies). In c.555 BCE Miltiades the Elder left Athens to establish a colony on the Thracian Chersonese (now the Gallipoli Peninsula), setting himself up as a semi-autonomous tyrant under the protection of Athens. Meanwhile, contrary to what one would expect from a man whose father was rumoured to have been murdered by the city leaders, Miltiades the Younger rose through the ranks of Athens to become eponymous archon under the rule of the Peisistratid tyrant Hippias in 524/23 BCE.

Miltiades (name)

Miltiades or Miltiadis (Greek: Μιλτιάδης, short: Miltos) is a Greek masculine given name. The name is derived from the Greek word for "red earth".

List of persons with the given name

References

Miltiades (disambiguation)

Miltiades the Younger (c. 550 – 489 BC) was tyrant of the Thracian Chersonese and the Athenian commanding general in the Battle of Marathon.

Miltiades may also refer to:

Names

Other uses