Anthemus and Hippias: The Policy of Amyntas I

The offer of the Anthemus region to the expelled Athenian tyrant Hippias by the king of Macedon, Amyntas I, illuminates aspects of the latter’s policy in the last decade of the sixth century B.C.E. This policy was connected with the interpersonal relationship between Amyntas and the Pisistratids as well as with the Persian presence in Thrace (Macedon was a client kingdom to Persia since 513-512 B.C.E.). By making this offer and by helping a prominent Athenian who had pro-Persian leanings, Amyntas was clearly showing his loyalty to Persia, hoping to get the maximum benefit for his kingdom.