Thirty Tyrants

Thirty Tyrants, or The Thirty, term used to identify the group of Athenians who ruled Athens after it fell to Sparta (404 B.C.). The oligarchy was set up by the Spartan general Ly sander. Under the leadership of the Athenian politician Critias, the group terrorized the Athenian citizenry and seized their property. In 403 B.C., Sparta reinstated Athens's democratic form of government.

See also: Athens; Greece, Ancient.