Cleisthenes (; , also
Clisthenes or
Kleisthenes) was the tyrant of
Sicyon from c. 600–560 BC, who aided in the
First Sacred War against
Kirrha that destroyed that city in 595 BC. He is also told to have organized with success a war against
Argos because of his anti-
Dorian feelings. After his victory he abolished all the
rhapsodists of
Homer, because they vaunted the citizens of
Argos. The key innovation of his reign, which Herodotus mentions, is the reformation of the tribal system in the city of Sicyon. Herodotus states that he gave new names to all the tribes, calling his own non-Doric tribe, rulers of the people, and naming the other three Doric tribes after various animals. Herodotus does not however, relate exactly what Cleisthenes' reform was. Whatever this reform was, it must have been successful for all the tribes kept their names for a long time, even after the death of Cleisthenes.