Pittacus of Mytilene

Born sometime around 650 BCE Pittacus of Mytilene forged his way into public life as a local hero. Lucky(?) enough to come of age in a time of political and economic upheaval on Lesbos he, along with several of the poet Alcaeus’ older brothers, was instrumental in helping to overthrow the ruling tyrant Melanchrus. But in the wake of their success a new tyrant, Myrsilus, emerged before Pittacus and company could stabilize a new government of their own.

Pittacus, Alcaeus and Alcaeus’ brothers regrouped in exile and with other exiles participated in an unsuccessful coup against Myrsilus before Pittacus decided that the new guy might not be so bad after all. A decision he apparently made after discovering that his company was of the mind to continue the same structure of aristocratic government that had previously brought the state to the brink of disaster.

Pittacus was well-liked by his countrymen and Myrsilus was happy to welcome him aboard, even going so far as giving Pittacus command of a fleet during a war over territory the Athenians had seized on Lesbos. When Phryno, the Athenian commander challenged him to one-to-one combat Pittacus is said to have armed himself with a concealed net and at first chance flung the net over the much larger Phryno’s head to cleverly defeat his opponent. Strabo goes on to say that the Roman gladiators borrowed from this strategy when developing the retiarii method of fighting.

This new victory firmly established Pittacus the hearts of his fellow Lesbians and they offered him half of the land he had (single-handedly) recovered from the Athenians. It is said that at this point he declined, insisting the the land be divided equally among all his countrymen in support of his maxim “The Equal Share is More than the Greater.” In what appears to be an alternative version of this event he still declines the offer, choosing instead to accept a plot only as large as he could cover with a single throw of the javelin. A half of that he later dedicated to Apollo at which time he is reported to have said, “The Half is Better than the Whole.”

Pittacus’ popularity manifested itself upon Myrsilus’ death when the people of Mytilene elected him aisymnetes a position similar to a dictator with the exception that his fellow citizens have voluntarily invested a single individual with this absolute power. Pittacus holds the distinction of being the one express incidence of the bestowal of this office. As a ruler Pittacus is credited with saying that “painted wood,” meaning the laws of the state, are the best protector. He is also famous for having instituted policies whereby any crime committed while drunk would warrant twice the penalty as the same crime committed without the influence of drunkenness.

Another anecdote has him visiting Sardis as Croesus is preparing ships for battle at sea with the Ionian islanders. Croesus asks Pittacus for news from Greece and Pittacus replies that the islanders were busy acquiring horses for a land attack at Saris. Croesus was thrilled to hear this until Pittacus pointed out that the Ionians were probably experiencing the same thrill at the thought of catching the Lydians on water. Croesus recognized the point Pittacus was making and opted instead to enter into a pact of friendship with the Ionian Greeks living on the islands.

By way of reward for this wise counsel Croesus is said to have opened his coffers and invited Pittacus to take as much as he could possibly want. Pittacus responded by saying that he was already in possession of twice what he could have hoped for. Croesus, admiring Pittacus’ restraint pressed him for an explanation and Pittacus explained that when his brother died without an heir he inherited the estate and had experienced no pleasure in the gain.

But Pittacus’ tyranny was not all a bed of roses. Several coup attempts by the exiled Alcaeus and his brothers were unsuccessful largely because of distention within the faction. Alcaeus himself was exiled three times and mercilessly attacked Pittacus in his verse, calling him among other things vulgar, of low birth, deformed, and drunken, and accusing him of unbridled ambition, perjury and faithlessness. Pittacus is said to have eventually pardoned even this worst enemy, Alcaeus, but this report is subject to some debate. The good will of the people remained with Pittacus however, probably because the Mytileans prospered under his rule. When he was satisfied whit the foundation he had set for the future he resigned his reign and enjoyed ten years of private life before his death ca. 570 BCE.

Various texts and fragments of ancient writing credit him with a number of maxims, though some of these are also attributed to other sage origins. Among these maxims are: “Every Man has His Curse,” “The Measure of a Man is what He does with Power,” and, as spoken when pardoning Alcaeus, “Forgiveness is Preferable to Punishment.”