Extract

Hermias (1), tyrant of Atarneus (in Mysia, opposite *Lesbos) c.355 bce. A former student of the *Academy (though he never met *Plato(1)), he introduced a more moderate regime, admitting the Platonists Erastus and Coriscus of Scepsis to a share in his power and encouraging them to found a new philosophical school at *Assos. There they were joined on Plato's death (348) by *Aristotle, *Xenocrates(1), and *Callisthenes, and later by *Theophrastus. Aristotle became an intimate friend of Hermias and married his niece and adopted daughter Pythias. Hermias possessed a formidable naval, military, and financial power, and was virtually independent of the Persian empire. An interesting inscription (RO 68) records honours to Hermias by *Erythrae. He negotiated, with Aristotle's assistance, an understanding with Macedonia. In 341, however, he was treacherously arrested at a conference with *Mentor(2), and sent captive to the Great King, who vainly tried to coerce him into revealing the plans of *Philip (1) II and executed him.