Cimon

Cimon (in Greek, Κίμων — Kimōn) (510, Athens-450 BC, Salamis), was an Athenian statesman, strategos (=general) and a major political figure of the 470s and 460s BC in the ancient city-state (polis) of Athens.

Cimon, was one of the most important men who created the powerful Athenian maritime Empire, of the 5th century BC after the Persia invasion of Xerxes I (480 BC). Cimon, like his father before him, (Miltiades) became a celebrated military hero, fighting at the Battle of Salamis. Cimon was elevated, after this battle, to the rank of Admiral.

As a leading politic figure Cimon became involved in many intrigues and was even ostracized in 461 BC. He was recalled from exile to broker a peace treaty between Sparta and Athens before the end of his ten year ostracism. He obtained a five year truce in 451 BC.

Cimon led the Athenian aristocratic party against the popular Pericles Cimon opposed the democratic revolution of Ephialtes, and worked to reinstall control over Athenian institutions for the aristocratic party.

Early years

Cimon was born in Athens in 510 BC, at the neighboring Laciadae as a member of the Oenesis tribe. His was of noble birth (his father was the celebrated Athenian general Miltiades and his mother was Hegesipyle, daughter of the Thracian king Olorus and a relative of the historian Thucydides), but his youth was quite complicated.^[1][2][3] He used to participate in the military activities of his father and therefore became recognized by the Athenians from that time on. However, Miltiades ended up an obscure man. He was fined 50 talents after an accusation of treason by the state. As Miltiades could not afford it, he died in jail. Then, Cimon, who was still too young, inherited the debt, together with his sister Elpinice.^[1][2]

Unruly youth

During his youth, Cimon had an uncontrollable personality, which led to people disliking him. Particularly, he had a knack for wine. The Athenians said that he would end up like his pitiful grandfather Cimon (who was known as The Stupid).^[1] Indeed, Cimon did not attain any liberal accomplishment during his youth. He received neither a formal education nor accomplished anything within the talents, which were common in that epoch (like music). Thus, for instance, he lacked an appropriate oratory.^[1]

Nonetheless, Cimon was recognized as an amicable person, who was predisposed to aid people in need. He had an imposing body and he liked growing his thick and curly hair long. Thus, he used to fill a room with his presence.^[1]

He maintained a well known incestuous relationship, with his sister Elpinice. In their poverty, they lived as a couple, whereas this was allowed by the Athenian law (although it was not decorous). When he also was imprisoned, because of his father's debts, the wealthy Callias took advantage of this, claiming Elpinice. He would pay the sum up if she would marry him. Cimon therefore betrothed his sister to him.^[1][2]

His marriage

Cimon further maintained a couple of romantic relationships (Asterie of Salamis and a woman, whose name was Mnestra). Nonetheless, Cimon fell in love with Isodice, who was Megacles' granddaughter, and married her. They named their sons, in accordance with Cimon's admiration of Sparta. The first children were twins and they were named Lacedaemonius (who would become an Athenian commander) and Eleus. The third son was Thessalus (who would become a politician). When Isodice passed away, Cimon was quite affected and this was reflected in an ancient poem.^[1][4][5]

Early military career

The Battle of Salamis

Main article: Battle of Salamis

Cimon defended Athens when the Persians besieged Attica in 480 BC. Themistocles decreed that all Athenians should evacuate the urban centre, southward to the nearby islands but Cimon, together with some of his friends, flaunted through the Athenian Ceramicus offering their horses' bridles to the goddess Athena, at her temple. They were showing that, instead of the horsemen, the Athenian sailors would win the Persian war (in accordance with the plans of Themistocles). Effectively, they left their harnesses at the temple. Cimon also took a shield from there. Then, they headed toward the seaport, enlisting sailors there. Many other Athenians were also encouraged after this action.^[1]

During the Battle of Salamis, Cimon distinguished himself by his bravery and as his fame rose, the Athenians began comparing him to his father.^[1]

Around the Marmara Sea

In 478 BC, Athens had still not consolidated its naval power, so both Cimon and Aristides followed the Spartan lead of Pausanias. With fifty battleships, after subduing most of Cyprus, they captured Byzantium (at the Marmara Sea).^[1][6][7]

However, Pausanias' behavior was quite controversial. Suspiciously, he corresponded with Xerxes I, the Persian king, whereas the Spartans were too arrogant against the Greeks. Even, he lambasted with physical violence, before any disciplinary problem, whereas he applied a similar management to the local colonists. Forcibly, the Spartans took the best supplies of the region and particularly the Ionians were quite angry. Instead, Cimon and Aristides bore nice manners towards everyone, being quite lenient to any offender. Thus, spontaneously, the Greeks began following them, disobeying Pausanias. Cimon and Aristides virtually became the new admirals of the Greek navy in that region. Then, accidentally, Pausanias killed his Byzantine mistress, who was the daughter of an important local man. The Greeks became enraged with him, and Cimon besieged Byzantium, thus Pausanias had to flee definitively, back to Sparta, where he was forced, to definitively leave his functions. As a direct aftermath, with their new political space, the Athenians would found the Delian League, against Persia.^[1][6][7]

Then, Cimon captured Sestos (which was situated at the Thracian Chersonese). Right after this, he gathered his numerous Persian prisoners, stripping them of all their valuable possessions (clothing and jewels). He asked to the Athenian allies whether they wanted the naked and ill-trained prisoners or their precious things. Logically, they decided to take the valuables and then they swaggered about their booty. However, soon afterward, the prisoners' Anatolian relatives arrived and paid huge ransoms for them. The sum was so large that Cimon could maintain his sailors for four months and bestow some money to the treasury of Athens.^[1][7]

At Thrace

In 476 BC, Cimon was appointed strategos. In that same year, responding to Xerxes I, some local noblemen rebelled in the city of Eion in Thrace. Subsequently, they attacked their Greek neighbors. Cimon went there with his fleet. By his first strike, he defeated the Persians and these cloistered inside Eion. Then, he dispelled the near Thracian tribes, which had been supporting them. He stayed, besieging Eion, until the enemy could not tolerate it. However, before surrendering, the Persian general (Boges) burned the city, killing both himself and his own troops and dumping the local treasury into the Strymon river. Cimon could rescue nothing from the arson but Athens cultivated the beautiful and fertile region. Soon afterward, the Athenians colonized the same spot, with 10,000 settlers, founding Amphipolis.^[1][8]

This conquest meant much prestige for Cimon. It was the first time that the Athenians had conquered some territory so far away from their city, from any of its foes. Until then, Athens had been able to afford defensive wars only. Celebrating the achievement, three Herma statues were erected throughout Athens, since this was a glory, which hadn't been achieved by any other general before.^[1]

At Scyros

In 475 BC, Cimon seized Scyros. The island was a nest of Thessalian pirates, from whom a group of merchants had escaped. These filed a complaint at the court of the Amphictyonic League, which fined Scyros. The common people of Scyros refused this and argued that only the pirates should pay for their crimes. Then, desperately, the fearful outlaws resorted to Cimon. They would deliver Scyros if Cimon would show himself there, with the Athenian navy. Thus, effectively, Cimon quashed the local population, counquering Scyros.^[1]

Coincidentally, Cimon learned that the mythological Theseus was buried on the island, since an Athenian oracle demanded bringing the bones back to Athens, after 400 years. Cimon searched the sepulture with great difficulty as the local people refused to help. Nonetheless, after an eagle mystically had pointed out the spot, he found the coffin of a physically great warrior, underground. He loaded the bones onto his ship and brought them home. The Athenians celebrated the return of their ancient king, with many processions and sacrifices. This meant much more fame for Cimon.^[1][9]

Becoming rich

By his latest campaigns, Cimon ended up quite rich.^[1] Indeed, he was anxious to live as a nobleman. However, he lived lavishly although he was proud, imitating the Spartan traditions as well. Also, at home, he was quite cordial to his important guests, in order to gain their favor.^[1]

Helping the people in need

Nonetheless, Cimon helped the necessitous Athenians up. He removed his estate's fences so any needing person could take his agricultural victuals. Besides, he daily served a plentiful table, for any local citizen of Laciadae. Furthermore, he was always attended by three valets, who wore expensive garments. They were ordered to exchange these with any other person who was ill clad. Also, the attendants carried a large change of coins, to dispense these among the poor people at the agora.^[1]

The aristocratic politician

Aristides took Cimon up, confronting the controversial Themistocles, whose dishonest populist politics were becoming quickly exhausted.^[1]

Personally, (despite his personal generosity) Cimon defended the Athenian nobility, as a member of its aristocratic party, and, indeed, he was reciprocally loved for it. Oppositely, Pericles sought the support of the popular party, becoming his worst rival. Thus, Cimon opposed Ephialtes' abolishing the aristocratic court of the areopagus, at the initiative of Pericles. Cimon also supported the constitution of Cleisthenes.^[1][4]

On the other hand, he was among the most honest politicians, refusing to corrupt himself, although all Athenian politicians did (except Aristides and Ephialtes), during those years. From Themistocles' ostracism (472 BC) until his own one, Cimon was the most influential politician of Athens. He was so popular, that, years later, the Archon of Athens (Apsiphion) spontaneously ordered that Cimon judge a quite popular trial. In it, the young Sophocles won against some people, who disliked his early plays.^[1]

About Sparta

Cimon was also supported by Sparta. After the Persians were expelled from Greece, the Spartans wished that only those of the 31 states, which had participated in the war, should be part of the Amphictyonic Council. The majority of these were powerless. Themistocles, who was loved by the Spartans until then, feared that the closest Athenian allies (Thessaly, Argos, and Thebes) would end up completely excluded whereas Sparta would be in complete power. Themistocles pressed successfully against such a possibility. After that, Sparta changed its preferences, instead supporting Cimon's politics until his death. He believed in the dual hegemony.^[1][3]

Like any other aristocrat, Cimon was sympathetic to Sparta (which was governed by a militarized oligarchy). The Athenians consented this while their empire was on the rise so the Spartans would not be jealous of it. However, after the empire was consolidated, the people disliked Cimon's foreign attitude.^[1]

Cimon had admired Sparta since his early life. Either before any controversy or to encourage something, his favorite saying was: "No! This is not the Spartan way!"^[1]

Boosting the early Athenian Empire

As the Persian threat decreased, the Aegean allies began skimping their support, being tired of the war. Still, they paid the traditional contribution, but they refused to provide neither men nor ships. The Athenian generals filed complaints against this, which made them hated. Instead, Cimon negotiated, and diplomatically, he obtained some extra money for each excepted unit, whilst he confiscated their ships at will (excepting their crewmen, though).^[1]

Subsequently, he trained the entire Athenian navy. The result of this became so effective, that Athens ended up being feared by the other nations, which ended as mere subjected tributary colonies of the Empire. Additionally, this forced Sparta to resign its regional superiority.^[1]

Restraining Persia

With his subsequent expeditions, Cimon harassed Persia, throughout Anatolia, plundering its cities and inducing many other ones to join Greece. Eventually, he conquered the region, which extended from Ionia to Pamphylia.^[1][6]

The Persians gathered at the coasts of Pamphylia and Cimon sailed toward them with 200 battleships, departinf from Cnidos and the Triopian Cape. Over the decks, he added extra room for even more soldiers and on the way, he raged the area around the city of Phaselis, until its inhabitants joined his navy and they paid ten talents in retaliation.^[1][6]

In 467 BC, Cimon confronted the 400 Persian ships at the mouth of the Eurymedon River. Because the enemy expected an 80 ship reinforcement from the Phoenicians, he hastened into the battle. He charged so effectively that most enemy ships did not dare confront him. Instead, they fled ashore, seeking the protection of the numerous Persian infantry. Cimon killed all who could not get ashore, capturing 200 ships. Subsequently, he hesitated whether to launch an amphibious assault or not, as his men had already fought a hard battle. Nonetheless, perceiving their resolution, he disembarked. The Greeks charged against the Persians, who waited firmly on their site. In the ferocious battle, although many distinguished Athenians were slain, the enemies were slaughtered. Cimon reaped an immense booty from the Persian dead bodies and tents.^[1][6]

Then, Cimon rushed against the Phoenician ships, which were located at Hydrum. Reaching it before the latest news, Cimon surprised the panicked enemies, destroying their 80 ships and killing their crews.^[1][6]

After this utterly victorious expedition, Persia, by many official treaties, restrained the access of its agents (taxmen and horsemen), 80 kilometers from the sea, along the Anatolian coast. By Cimon, Athens was dominating the entire Aegean Sea. He had served well in the Persian Wars and according to Plutarch: "In all the qualities that war demands he was fully the equal of Themistocles and his own father Miltiades".^[1][6]

The rich and big booty

This expedition meant much money for Athens, both from the ransom of the captives and from the valuable spoils. With this, Athens financed many new buildings:

• The stone foundation of the Long Walls, which connected Athens and Piraeus, was placed over the soft terrain.
• Southward from the Acropolis, a defensive wall was built.
• At the Agora, shady plane trees were planted in rows. Eventually, this walk style extended throughout the city.
• The Academy, which was a bare and dirty spot, was transformed into a beautiful attraction, with fountains, shady alleys, and many race tracks.^[1]

  Campaigning in Chersonese

  In 466 BC, Cimon was sent to Chersonese, to subdue the region. The local Persians slighted such menace, inviting other regional forces, to confront him. With only four battleships, Cimon defeated them, capturing thirteen ships. Thus, Athens seized the peninsula.^[1]

  At Thasos

  Then, he sailed to Thasos, whose people had rebelled against Athens. With a naval victory, he subdued the island, capturing 33 ships, after which he stormed the city, and three years later, the Athenians had definitively conquered the place, seizing its rich mines of gold.^[1][6]

  Being judged

  Returning home, Cimon easily could have invaded the feeble Macedon, but chose not to. Because of this omission, he was, in Athens, accused, by his political adversaries, of receiving a bribe from the King Alexander I of Macedon. During the trial, Cimon said: "Never, I have been an Athenian consul, to any rich kingdom. Instead, I was proud, attending the Spartans, from whom I have always imitated their frugal culture. This proves that I don't desire personal wealth. Rather, I love enriching our nation, with the booty of our victories." In the process, Elpinice convinced Pericles not to be too harsh in his criticism of her brother. Cimon was in the end acquitted.^[1]

  Against the populism

  Right after these events, Pericles and Ephialtes led the popular party, starting a democratic revolution, which deposed all the aristocratic institutions of Athens. Particularly, the Areopagus was curtailed. Cimon, who utterly opposed such events, was away from the city when this happened.^[1]

  Returning home, he began conspiring in order to restore the aristocratic constitution of Clisthenes, reinstalling an oligarchy, to divide the power between both the aristocracy and the middle (Hoplite) class. After noticing this, Pericles' party began a libelous campaign. They remembered the incestuous life Cimon and his sister had lead and accused Cimon of having a preferment for Sparta.^[1]

  Succoring Sparta

  In 464 BC, Sparta (which was planning to invade Attica) was entirely destroyed by a powerful earthquake. The Spartan King Archidamus II could not cope with the helots, who began rebelling in many cities around Sparta, and then moved westward, to arise Sparta's old rival Messene. The desperate Archidamus supplicated to Athens for help. Particularly, they were traditionally deficient, about the besieging operations. Ephialtes opposed this, but nonetheless, Cimon argued: "I beseech. Greece shouldn't end lame because Athens might lose his yoke-fellow." Effectively, Cimon marched to the Peloponnesus with 4,000 men.^[1][6]

  The ostracism

  Image:AGMA Ostrakon Cimon.jpg

  Ostrakon with Cimon's name.

  In 462 BC, Sparta again solicited help against the helots, to recapture the fortress of Ithome. When Cimon's army arrived, its magnificence inspired much terror to the Spartans. They began fearing that, by their quite different culture, the Athenians would join the revolutionaries. Thus, the Spartans rejected them. Their simple explanation was that they did not need the help any longer.^[1][6]

  The Athenians were so angry that they broke their old alliance of the Persian Wars, allying aggressively with Argos. Internally, the people began attacking those, who were friends of the Spartans. Thus, in 461 BC, by a politically motivated initiative of Pericles, Cimon was ostracized, nominally for ten years.^[1][6]

  Cimon returns

  However, the Spartans (defiantly) occupied Tanagra, battling any Athenian regiment that would faced them. Slighting his sentence, Cimon appeared there, wearing his armour, to fight among the files of his tribe. In the Senate of the Five Hundred, his political enemies claimed that, with his presence, he expected to mess up the actions deliberately, ensuring the victory of the Spartans.^[1]

  Thus, the generals did not want Cimon to fight. Nonetheless, he spoke to his friends (who were similarly suspected): "You should fight bravely so, about our honor, all suspicion will be effaced, from the thoughts of the Athenians." Some of the 100 men regiment took his armor, to use it during the battle. They fought so bravely that all were slain during the confrontation.^[1]

  The Athenians were quite grieved by these events. Then, they were definitively defeated and a massive Peloponnesian invasion was expected, during the next spring. The political class became so moderate that they recalled Cimon, by a decree, which was signed by Pericles, in 456 BC.^[1][2][4]

  Then, traveling personally to Sparta, Cimon ended the war, with a five year truce.^[1][2]

  The last campaign

  Soon, Cimon perceived that Athens was too anxious to go to war again to strengthen the Empire. Redirecting the intention afar, he organized a 200 trireme expedition against Persia, toward Cyprus and Egypt (which had revolted against Persia). In 451 BC, the Athenian Assembly authorized this. Additionally, Cimon knew about the outlaw Themistocles, who was aiding the enemy, from Anatolia. This motivated him even more.^[1][6][3]

  However, right before embarking, Cimon had a nightmare. An aggressive female dog was barking to him, when it began speaking: "You should embark, to become the pleasure, for both me and my whelps." In accordance with the wicked interpretation, the dog was death. As it barked, it was talking to an enemy, whose last would be its pleasure. The mixture of sounds meant Persia (the barks), which was joined by some Greek colonies (the human voice). Cimon was quite moved by the terrifying interpretation.^[1]

  Nonetheless, it was too late, so the expedition departed immediately. Cimon directed 60 ships to Egypt, keeping the rest with him. The Persians waited for him, with Phoenician and Cilician units. He defeated them in a naval battle, and then he seized many urban centers of Cilicia.^[1][6]

  His death

  Main article: Battle of Salamis (in Cyprus)

  During the Battle of Salamis (which took place at Salamis, Cyprus), Cimon was besieging the city of Citium while he was planning the next steps, over Egypt. However, he died, in 449 BC. Most ancient historians established that this was due to a disease. Other minor writers said that Cimon died by a fatal wound.^[1]

  In any case, before passing away, Cimon ordered to conceal his death until the whole 200 trireme fleet was afar from the region, sailing home, safely. Thus, his death was undisclosed one month later.^[1]

  He was buried in Athens where a monument was erected. Nearby, his racehorses (which once had won the Olympic Games) were also interred. Right before his decease, Cimon had sent a commission to the temple of Zeus (at Ammon). An oracle had rejected the emissaries, saying: "Depart because Cimon is already with our God." Effectively, this coincided roughly with Cimon's death. The people of Citium asked another oracle. It ordered that Cimon henceforth be honored as a superior being.^[1][10]

  Ships named after Cimon

  The Hellenic Navy has repeatedly honored Cimon by naming ships after him:

  • Κίμων D-218 (1991-2004)
  • USS Ringgold (DD-500)

  External links

  • Cimon of Athens, in About.com.

  See also

  • Pericles
  • Aristides
  • Themistocles
  • Miltiades
  • Battle of Salamis
  • Pausanias
  • Amphictyonic League
  • Theseus
  • Long Walls
  • Ostracism
  • Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (450 BC)

  Notes

  1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay} Plutarch, Lives. Life of Cimon. (University of Calgary/Wikisource)
  2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Cornelius Nepos, Lives of Eminent Commanders
  3. ^ ^{a b c} Plutarch, Lives. Life of Themistocles. (University of Massachusetts/Wikisource)
  4. ^ ^{a b c} Plutarch, Lives. Life of Pericles. (University of Calgary/Wikisource)
  5. ^ Plutarch, Lives. Life of Alcibiades. (University of Calgary/Wikisource)
  6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War.
  7. ^ ^{a b c} Plutarch, Lives. Life of Aristides. (University of Calgary/Wikisource)
  8. ^ Herodotus, The History of Herodotus.
  9. ^ Plutarch, Lives. Life of Theseus. (University of Massachusetts/Wikisource)
  10. ^ Plutarch, Lives. Life of Marcus Cato. (University of Massachusetts/Cato Wikisource)

  
  

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