Page "Cylon of Athens" Paragraph 1

Cylon, one of the Athenian nobles and a previous victor of the Olympic Games, attempted a coup in 632 BC with support from Megara, where his father-in-law, Theagenes was tyrant.

The oracle at Delphi had advised him to seize Athens during a festival of Zeus, which Cylon understood to mean the Olympics.

However, the coup was opposed, and Cylon and his supporters took refuge in Athena's temple on the Acropolis.

Cylon and his brother escaped, but his followers were cornered by Athens's nine archons.

According to Plutarch and Thucydides ( 1. 126 ), they were persuaded by the archons to leave the temple and stand trial after being assured that their lives would be spared.