Death Of The Conspirators

Harmodius and Aristogiton decided to get rid of the tyrants and told their plans to a few trusted friends. They held secret meetings at the home of a brave woman named Leaena, which means "the lioness." She was the only woman involved in the plot.

It was customary for the Athenians to attend the festival wearing armor, so the young men waited for that occasion to carry out their plan. They mingled with the crowd, found a good position near the tyrants, and suddenly drew their swords from their scabbards to attack their enemies.

Harmodius was so quick that he managed to kill Hipparchus, but before his companions could join and protect him, he was cut down by the tyrant's guards.

Aristogiton rushed forward to save his friend, but he was captured and dragged before Hippias, who ordered him to reveal the names of his fellow conspirators. At first, Aristogiton refused to speak, but after a while, pretending to give in, he named some of the tyrant's own supporters who were helping him oppress the Athenians.

The tyrant, alarmed, had the accused arrested and executed without a trial, along with Aristogiton. When Hippias realized his mistake, he again tried to learn the names of the real conspirators. Knowing that Harmodius and Aristogiton had often visited Leaena, he had her imprisoned and tortured to force her to speak, intending to kill all the conspirators as he had killed Aristogiton.

The brave woman knew that the lives of several young men depended on her silence; one word could cause their death. So she resolved not to make a sound. Despite terrible tortures, she kept her mouth tightly shut. When she was finally released, they discovered that she had bitten off her own tongue to avoid betraying her friends.

Poor Leaena did not live long after this. When she died, she was buried in a beautiful tomb. Her friends placed a statue of a lioness without a tongue on her grave, to remind the people of her courage.

The Athenians deeply mourned her death and grieved for the brave young men Harmodius and Aristogiton. But the tyranny of Pisistratus's son grew crueler and more unbearable each day.