Cylon

Cylon sīˈlän [key], fl. 7th cent. b.c., Athenian nobleman. After a triumph in the Olympic games, Cylon, at the instigation and with the support of his father-in-law, Theagenes, the tyrant of Megara, attempted to establish himself as tyrant of Athens by seizing the Acropolis. The Athenians crushed the revolt; his followers who had sought sanctuary in Athena's temple were killed. Megacles, who had ordered the killings, and the Alcmaeonidae were exiled for the murders.

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