Xanthippus

Ostracism

Xanthippus' leadership was short lived due to his ostracism in 484 BC. Xanthippus allied with his fellow aristocrat Aristides to counter the ambitions of Themistocles. Around the year 480 BC, the names of Xanthippus and Aristides would come to be invoked in songs critiquing "the liar, the cheat, and traitor" Themistocles, who Plutarch claimed played a hand in a series of ostracisms that removed the pair from Athens. Named after the ostrakon shards that votes would be cast on, should a quorum of 6,000 votes be cast in an ostracism, the man whose name received the most votes would be exiled for ten years, upon which time he could return without legal or political ramification. There were 5 prominent ostracisms of aristocrats during the political clashes of the 480s BC, concerned with removing those connected with the tyrant Pisistratus. Xanthippus was the first ostracism not in connection with the tyranny, followed by Aristides. Themistocles was rumored to be involved with both ostracisms. His father's connection to Pisistratus was not noted as a cause.