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Honoring tyrannicide was a part of civic ritual in classical Athens. Before drinking parties it was common for the party to sing a skolion to Harmodius and Aristogeiton, the two lovers who assassinated Hipparchus, one of the Peisistratid tyrants, ca. 514 BCE. The best-known skolion is attributed to the Athenian poet Callistratus.
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– – – a toast – – –
In a branch of myrtle I’ll bear my sword
Just like Harmodius and Aristogeiton
When they slew the tyrant,
And enacted equality in Athens.
Beloved Harmodius, you are not dead, I think,
But in the Isles of the Blessed they say you are
Where swift footed Achilles is
And the son of Tydeus, the worthy Diomedes.
In a branch of myrtle I’ll bear my sword
Just like Harmodius and Aristogeiton,
When at the sacrifices of Athena,
They slew the autocrat Hipparchus.
The renown of you two will live forever on the earth,
Beloved Harmodius and Aristogeiton,
Because you slew the tyrant
And enacted equality in Athens.
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