Polycrates was the first ruler in ancient Greece to understand the importance of controlling the seas, and as such he commanded the most powerful fleet in the Greek world from his seat of power in Samos, earning him a reputation as a tyrant pirate.
Samos boasted a very powerful naval force during the tyranny of Polycrates (c. 540-523 BC), to the point where it was enthusiastically noted by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus in his writings about Samos.
The tyrant’s use of naval force so impressed Herodotus that he states, “Polycrates was the first Greek to aim at the mastery of the sea, and he had great hope of making himself master of Ionia and the islands.” But Polycrates did not acquire this reputation as a maritime master all at once. Rather, he carefully developed his sea power throughout the duration of his tyranny and even adapted his naval forces to meet different objectives.
At the beginning of his career as a tyrant, Polycrates is described as having in his possession a fleet of 100 pentekonters – versatile, long-range ships used for sea trade, piracy, and warfare, leading to his depiction as little more than a glorified pirate chief. In fact, Herodotus gives life to this depiction when writing about the tyrant’s non-discriminatory piratical activities by which “he harried all men alike,” and began capturing “many of the islands and many of the mainland cities too.”
How Polycrates Came To Power In Samos
In the mid-sixth century, there seems to have been a period of civil unrest in Samos. This strife is mentioned by Herodotus in the context of Polycrates’ rise to power. Some historians have cited archaeological evidence which suggests a serious disruption during this period.
Around 550 BC – according to the historians – funerary stele were shattered and aristocratic burials in the West Cemetery at Samos ceased, while the first great temple of Hera, known as the Rhoikos temple, was destroyed, just a decade after it was constructed.
Herodotus writes that during this turmoil, Polycrates took power with his brothers Pantagnotus and Syloson and a force of just 15 men. This power grab appears to have taken place in 540 BC or slightly earlier. At first, Polycrates ruled along with his brothers, however, it wasn’t long until he had Pantagnotus killed and then exiled Syloson, taking complete control for himself.
According to a Roman-period author, Polyaenus, there was a religious procession in armor out of the city of Samos to the Heraion, led by Pantagnotus and Syloson. When the procession came to an end, the Samians removed their armor to sacrifice, and Pantagnotus and Syloson seized the chance to murder their enemies.
Meanwhile, Polycrates had seized Astypalaea, the citadel of the city of Samos. The tyrant of Naxos, Lygdamis, invaded with a force to support Polycrates. However, it is uncertain whether Polyaenus’ account describes Polycrates’ initial seizure of power or the conflict with his brothers which left him as sole ruler.
Advances in Samos under Polycrates the Pirate
Under Polycrates the Samians developed an engineering and technological expertise unique in ancient Greece. In his accounts of Polycrares, Herodotus describes three astonishing engineering works of the Samians. The first of these is an aqueduct in the form of a tunnel, 1,036-meters long which can still be seen and which is known as the Tunnel of Eupalinos.
The tunnel was built by two teams digging from opposite sides of a ridge, who met in the middle with an error of just a few meters – which at the time was quite an extraordinary engineering feat, and one which probably reflects the practical geometry skills which the Samians had learned from the Egyptians.
Pirate Polycrates also sponsored the construction of a large temple of Hera, the Heraion, to which Amasis (King of Egypt) dedicated many gifts, and which, at 105-meters long, was one of the three largest temples in the Greek world.
However, despite these projects being associated with Polycrates on account of Herodotus’ passage, the historian is actually quite vague about when these projects were carried out and what – if anything – they had to do with Polycrates.
Archaeological excavations have made the picture more complex, suggesting that the Tunnel of Eupalinos may have been dug before his reign and that Polycrates continued projects that were already in course at the Heraion.
The Legendary story of the ring
According to Herodotus, Amasis believed Polycrates was too successful, and thus advised him to throw away whatever he valued most in order to escape a reversal of fortune. Polycrates took the advice and threw a jewel-encrusted ring into the sea. But, a few days later, a fisherman caught a large fish that he wished to share with the tyrant.
While Polycrates’ cooks were preparing the fish for eating, they discovered the ring inside of it. Polycrates the pirate told Amasis of his good fortune, and Amasis immediately broke off their alliance, believing that such a lucky man would eventually come to a disastrous end.
Within Herodotus’ work, this story serves to advance general themes about the mutability of fortune and how to judge success. Most subsequent references to Polycrates in literature and other media have focused on this story.
Pirate Polycrates’ Naval Conquests
After Polycrates had spent some time capturing islands and mainland cities, some of his more powerful neighbors united against him. However, with his superior fleet of pentekonters he was able to defeat
a combined Lesbian and Milesian force in a naval engagement in around 530 BC.
Once that battle was won, Polycrates was forced to turn his attention to a growing Persian threat, and this brought about a subtle change in his naval policy. Ditching the pirate label, he was now one of the two major powers in Ionian waters and he therefore had to plan for the inevitable fight with the Persians.
The harbor at Samos was upgraded, being enclosed by a great mole which Herodotus describes as one of “three greatest works to be seen in any Greek land.”
The historian also tells us that Polycrates built shipsheds which were in all likelihood designed for the vessels he was building for the upcoming conflict – triremes. These ancient oar-driven warships – powered by about 170 oarsmen – were needed because the Persians themselves were gradually accruing a fleet, founded on a nucleus of similarly built Phoenician triremes.
Even though pirate Polycrates preferred to sail in a pentekonter, towards the end of his rule he acquired a large fleet of triremes; so many in fact that he was able to expel his political opponents by sending them off in 40 of them.
The long-anticipated fight with the Persians never materialized, however, because Polycrates was captured and crucified by Oroetes, a Persian Satrap of Lydia.
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