Grave Stele of Aristion

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Aristion, who died in 86 BC, ruled Athens from 88 BC until his death. This Athenian tyrant joined forces with Mithridates against Roman forces under Lucius Cornelius Sulla during the First Mithridatic War. However, their efforts were unsuccessful. On March 1, 86 BC, Sulla conquered Athens and executed Aristion. Some historians refer to him as Athenion, possibly indicating that he was a different person or a second tyrant whose story became entangled with Aristion's. Athenaeus preserves Aristion's early life, citing Posidonius' account. According to Posidonius, Aristion was known as Athenion and was a Peripatetic philosopher. In contrast, other historians like Pausanias, Appian, and Plutarch called him Aristion, with Appian describing him as an Epicurean philosopher. The discrepancy remains unresolved, leaving the possibility that there were two tyrants who held power in quick succession during the war. Aristion was born out of wedlock to a Peripatetic philosopher named Athenion. He succeeded his father and became an Athenian citizen through this connection. Aristion married early and began teaching philosophy with great success at Messene and Larissa. Upon returning to Athens, he amassed a considerable fortune and was appointed ambassador to Mithridates, king of Pontus, who was then engaged in war with Rome. Aristion's letters to Athens portrayed Mithridates as an incredibly powerful figure, instilling hope among the Athenians that they could overthrow Roman rule. Mithridates sent Aristion to Athens around 88 BC, where he secured power through patronage and assumed the tyranny. His regime was characterized by brutality, earning him a reputation of horror from Plutarch. Aristion is compared unfavorably with Nabis and Catiline. Aristion commissioned Apellicon of Teos to plunder Delos' sacred treasury, although Appian notes that Mithridates had already ordered this act for him. The resulting funds enabled Aristion to gain supreme power. Meanwhile, Sulla landed in Greece, besieging Athens and Piraeus, where Archelaus, Mithridates' general, was stationed. The city suffered from severe famine, with reports of cannibalism. Eventually, Athens fell, and Sulla ordered that no one be spared. Aristion fled to the Acropolis after burning down the Odeon to prevent its woodwork being used against him. However, the Acropolis soon fell, and Aristion was dragged to execution from the altar of Athena before being poisoned. Pausanias attributes a disease that later killed Sulla as divine vengeance for this sacrilegious act.