The Thirty Tyrants: Athens's Brutal Year Under Sparta

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Jul 13, 2026 · 4m · transcript

In 404 BCE, after Athens lost the Peloponnesian War, Sparta imposed a brutal oligarchy on the defeated city: the Thirty Tyrants. For just over a year, this pro-Spartan regime terrorized Athens, executing thousands, confiscating property, and purging democrats. This episode explores how the Thirty came to power — with Spartan backing — their brief but bloody reign, and the resistance led by Thrasybulus that eventually restored democracy. We examine key figures like Critias, the ruthless intellectual leader, and Theramenes, who tried to moderate the violence and was executed for it. We also…