Editing Chilon of Sparta (section)

==Life==
Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC. [[Herodotus]]<ref>Herodotus, i. 59</ref> speaks of him as contemporary with [[Hippocrates, father of Peisistratos|Hippocrates, the father of]] [[Peisistratos|Peisistratus]]. [[Diogenes Laërtius]] states that he was an old man in the 52nd [[Olympiad]] (572 BC), and that he was elected an [[ephor]] (overseer) in [[Sparta]] in the 56th Olympiad (556/5 BC). [[Alcidamas]] states that he was a member of the Spartan assembly.<ref>Alcidamas ap. Aristotle, ''Rhet.'' ii. 23. 11</ref> Diogenes Laërtius even goes so far as to claim that Chilon was also the first person who introduced the custom of joining the ephors to the kings as their counselors.<ref name="Laërtius">Diogenes Laërtius, i. 68-73</ref>
[[File:Giordano - Le Philosophe Chilon, 1660 vers.jpg|thumb|Fictional portrait of Chilon by [[Luca Giordano]] (ca. 1660)]]
Chilon is said to have helped to overthrow the tyranny at [[Sicyon]], which became a Spartan ally. He is also credited with the change in Spartan policy leading to the development of the [[Peloponnesian League]] in the sixth century BC.<ref>Hammond, N.G.L. & Scullard, H.H. (Eds.) (1970).'' The Oxford Classical Dictionary'' (p.229). Oxford: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-869117-3}}.</ref> Another legend claims that he died of joy when his son gained the prize for boxing at the [[Ancient Olympic Games|Olympic games]],<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chilon|volume=6|page=163}}</ref> and that his funeral was attended by all the Greeks assembled at the festival.<ref name="Laërtius"/>

One of his descendants married king [[Anaxandridas II]] of Sparta and had a son with him, king [[Cleomenes I]].
[[Image:Chilon of Sparta.jpg|right|thumb|Modern depiction of Chilon]]