Who is he - the ruler in ancient Greece?

Everyone knows that Ancient Greece is the world-recognized cradle of democracy. But along with this political device, Greece also tried other forms of government. Suffice it to say that in his writings Aristotle, along with democracy (he calls it politics), quite admits aristocracy and monarchy. Every deviation from royal power Aristotle called tyranny. Depending on this or that form of government, adopted at the moment, the ruler in ancient Greece could be called differently. In each specific case, this depended on the regime in which the country was administered.

The Crete-Mycenaean Period

Perhaps the earliest of the periods studied in ancient Greece existed in the Bronze Age. The existing texts suggest the monarchical principles of governance in those days. The ruler in ancient Greece bore the name "Wanaka", which translated as "master," "lord," "king." Along with the supreme ruler, power (perhaps executive) was carried out by basileus. It is noteworthy that in later times the word basileus will mean "king". But at the dawn of Greek civilization the basileus performed other, more modest functions related to management and military affairs.

The Age of Homer

In the Iron Age , a new type of sociopolitical system is being formed on the territory of Greece - policies. At this time, Homer writes his remarkable works - "Iliad" and "Odyssey." From his description of the Trojan War , many names, worn by the rulers of ancient Greece, can be gleaned. The list of basileus, by that time already received all the power, is great enough. Along with the names of kings, such as Odysseus, Diomedes, Nestor, Achilles, there are also whole dynasties - Atrids, Labdakids, Neleids and others. All the rulers in ancient Greece were considered descendants of the gods. Despite this dynastic monarchy in this country has not developed.

Time of tyrants

At the turn of the 7th-6th centuries. BC. E. In many policies, power passed into the hands of tyrants. Some of them were quite bright and successful personalities, who later would be called the "rulers of ancient Greece". Their names are Periander, Pisistratus, Kipsel and others. A characteristic feature of all rulers at this time is the transience and short-term presence in power. Indicative in this sense was the life of the tyrant Dionysius, who ruled in Syracuse. For the post of an autocrat strategist, he was elected in the period of military operations, but after the enemy laid down his arms, Dionysius continued to rule Syracuse until the end of his life.

Archons

In the democratic period of the existence of state policies, the administration of the city was engaged in a constitutional magistracy, in which the archons ruled. In translation from Greek, the archon is the ruler, the chief, the leader. Another word that the ruler in ancient Greece could call himself is the tag. For example, in Thessaly, Jason Fersky quite deservedly called himself a tag.

Most policies on the composition of their board could be called either democratic or oligarchic. The difference was that in a democratic society all free citizens had the right to vote , in the oligarchic society only people of high material wealth. An exemplary example of the leader of a democratic camp was Pericles. His influence was so great that he deserved the honorary nickname "demagogue" which in translation means "ruling over the people". Over time, this word has acquired a negative connotation. But with Pericles, the demagogue who wore the title deserved respect.

After the conquest of Greece by Alexander the Great, his generals - Demetrius and Antigonus - began to call themselves kings. Over time, monarchs began to deify, and before the conquest by the Romans of these lands, every ruler in ancient Greece was considered a king and could transfer power by inheritance.