Polycrates of Samos

E26411

Polycrates of Samos was a powerful 6th-century BCE tyrant of the island of Samos, renowned for his naval dominance, cultural patronage, and legendary wealth and good fortune.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Polycrates 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient Greek tyrant
historical figure
ruler
associatedWith Aegean Sea
Ionian Greek
surface form: Ionian Greek world
continent Europe
country Samos
culture Ancient Greek
deathCause violent death
deathNote killed after being lured away from Samos
era Archaic Greece
ethnicGroup Greek
floruit circa 540 BCE
governmentForm tyranny
hasCapital Samos
surface form: city of Samos
hasReputation cruelty
despotism
exceptional luck
influenced regional balance of power in the Aegean
knownFor cultural patronage
legendary good fortune
legendary wealth
maritime power
naval dominance
rule over Samos
language Ancient Greek
legacy example of overreaching good fortune in Greek literature
militaryBranch naval forces
name Polycrates of Samos self-linksurface differs
surface form: Polycrates

Polycrates of Samos self-link
narrativeTheme the instability of fortune
occupation military leader
ruler
patronage artists
craftsmen
poets
politicalSystem autocracy
positionHeld tyrant of Samos
powerBase control of sea trade routes
naval fleet
regionRuled Samos
surface form: island of Samos
religion Ancient Greek religion
source Herodotus
timePeriod 6th century BCE
typeOfWealth gold and luxury goods
wealthFrom maritime trade
tribute from subject cities

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Polycrates of Samos name Polycrates of Samos self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Polycrates
Polycrates of Samos name Polycrates of Samos self-link
Anacreon patron Polycrates of Samos
Samos ruledBy Polycrates of Samos