The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

364 J. MAVROGORDATO.
afforded by the resemblance between the didrachms
with the uplifted paw and the electmm stater of the
Ionic Eevolt, a resemblance that is due 3 in my opinion,
to the deliberate archaism of the latter.
PERIOD V. 478-431 B.C. (?).
When the tyranny with its Persian sympathies had
been finally abolished, Chios became once more a purely
Greek island, and entered upon that period of peace
and prosperity that was to make her the envy of all
her neighbours. 48 Whereas in the sixth century Samos
had been the most powerful Ionian community, the
lead passed to Chios after the Persian wars, and far
the best part of seventy years the island was able to
devote all its energies to the development of its
resources. It was rare indeed among the Greek citystates
for such a long term of years to pass without
war, and, more remarkable still, without civil strife.
At first the oligarchy or aristocratic party had com-
plete control of affairs, and seems to have conducted
them very successfully. Then, under the influence of
Athens, a democratic party arose for the first time in the
island's history, and gained ground steadily, though
only slowly at first. This sowed the seeds of all the
subsequent faction and disorder that wrought such destruction
in Chios towards the end of the fifth century.
But during the course of the present period, or at any
rate during the earlier part of it, Chios seems to have
been an eastern rival of Athens. That state of things
could not last for long of course, and as Athens grew
48
Thucydides
viii. 24.