Critias
(ca. 460-403 BC)
Leader of the
"Thirty Tyrants" that ruled Athens 404-403 BC. The rule was one
of terror, and Critias has gone to history as one of the ultimate villains.
Critias was born into an aristocratic family, and was educated by the likes
of Socrates and the Sophists. He was both the uncle and guardian of Plato's
uncle Charmides, and Plato described hem both as young, glamorous men in his
dialogues.
After the incident with the mutilated Herms (see Alcibiades) in 415 BC, Critias
was suspected of having taken part in the vandalism. He was arrested for the
crime, but subsequently released.
At the end of the Peloponnesian war in 404 BC Critias was called back when
the Spartans demanded it in the peace negotiations after they had defeated
Athens.
On his return he was elected to the dictatorial, Sparta friendly government
that consisted of 30 tyrants. The rule can be compared to extremist fascism
where anyone suspected to resist or had great personal wealth was executed.
In Eleusis a mass execution of 300 men was ordered.
In 403 the 30 tyrants were toppled, and ironically, Critias did not die then,
but in a common street fight in Pireus. He was well hated by then, and was
one of the reasons Socrates was persecuted, since the philosopher had been
his teacher.
Apart from being a villain, though, Critias was intelligent and cultural and
wrote prose, tragedies and lyric poetry.
