The Praise Singer: A Novel

CHRONOLOGY

SOME HISTORICAL EVENTS DURING THE LIFETIME OF SIMONIDES

B.C.

556

Simonides born. Pisistratos expelled from Athens for the second time.

550

Kyros establishes supremacy of Persians over Medes. Pisistratids in exile.

546

Kyros takes Sardis. Pisistratos returns to Athens.

540

Kyros conquers Babylon. Polykrates reigning in Samos.

530

Death of Kyros. Accession of Kambyses.

527

Death of Pisistratos. Hippias succeeds to the Tyranny.

525

Aischylos born.

522

Murder of Polykrates. Death of Kambyses. Darius succeeds. Pindar born.

514

Murder of Hipparchos by Harmodios and Aristogeiton.

510

Hippias expelled from Athens. Simonides in Thessaly.

499-494

Ionian revolt against Persia, ending in defeat.

496

Sophokles born. Herodotos born about this time.

495

Perikles born.

492

Persians invade Thrace. Simonides back in Athens about this time.

490

Darius invades Greece. Battle of Thermopylai. Simonides composes epitaph of the fallen Spartans. Persians (with Hippias) defeated at Marathon.

486

Death of Darius. Accession of Xerxes.

480

Xerxes invades Greece. Athens evacuated. Greek naval victory at Salamis, retreat of Xerxes. Euripides born.

c.476

Simonides retires to Syracuse, accompanied by Bacchylides.

472

Aischylos’ tragedy

The Persians

performed in Athens.

468

Death of Simonides.