Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Abantidas

by Various Authors

ABA’NTIDAS (Ἀβαντίδας), the son of Paseas, became tyrant of Sicyon after murdering Cleinias, the father of Aratus, B. C. 264. Aratus, who was then only seven years old, narrowly escaped death. Abantidas was fond of literature, and was accus­tomed to attend the philosophical discussions of Deinias and Aristotle, the dialectician, in the agora of Sicyon: on one of these occasions he was mur­dered by his enemies. He was succeeded in the tyranny by his father, who was put to death by Nicocles. (Plut. Arat. 2. 3; Paus. ii. 8. § 2.)