Four years passed thus, and the Athenians were hoping that the time would soon come when they could get rid of Hippias. They were only too glad, therefore, when they at last found a way to drive him out of the town.
You must remember how Megacles had killed the men who came out of Athene’s temple clinging to the cord they had fastened to her statue. Megacles, as you know, had been banished from Athens with all his family (the Alcmaeonidae) on account of this crime, but he had always hoped to be allowed to return.
Meanwhile the beautiful temple at Delphi had been burned to the ground, and the people were very anxious to rebuild it. They therefore voted a certain sum of money for this purpose; and, as the Alcmaeonidae offered to do the work for the least pay, the contract was given to them.
The Alcmaeonidae faithfully carried out the plans, and used the money; but, instead of building the temple of brick, they made it of pure white marble, paying for the more costly material themselves.
The priests of Delphi told the Spartans who came to consult the oracle, that Hippias should be driven away, and the Alcmaeonidae allowed to return to their native city.
The Spartans armed at once, and, helped by the Alcmaeonidae, began to make war against the Athenians. By a clever trick, they soon managed to capture the family of Hippias, and they refused to set them free unless the tyrant left Athens forever.
Thus forced to give in, Hippias left Athens, and withdrew with his family to Asia Minor. Here he spent all his time in trying to persuade the different cities to make war against Athens, offering to lead their armies, for he still hoped to regain his lost power.
The Athenians, delighted at the expulsion of the Pisistratidae, as the drivingaway of Hippias and his family is called in history, now dared to make statues in honor of their favorites Harmodius and Aristogiton, and openly expressed their regret that these brave young men had not lived to see their native city free.
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