The word 'tyrant' in ancient Greece are not meant anything bad. Tyranny is a kind of intermediate form of government in the Greek cities in the transition from imperial power to the oligarchy and democracy. The word tyrant meant that people come to power alone, and not inherited. Board of tyrants in Greece were as oppressive, and quite soft in relation to his people. However, most of the tyrants have tried to find support in People masses as a natural counterbalance to the aristocracy. The main stumbling block was public land, which is less prosperous tyrants stand out segments of the population, which naturally caused a storm of indignation in the land aristocracy.
Some of the tyrants, for example, Cleobulus, who ruled the island of Rhodes in the 8th century BC, were listed on the sages of the ancient world, through their actions and governance. The same honor to be called Cleobulus sage due to the fact that he invented to collect taxes for public purposes. It was kind of a revolution in people's minds. Until now, all taxes and levies in the ancient world were collected in favor of royal birth, and it was personal money kings, but became possible Cleobulus construction of important facilities like water, fountains, and general town planning. It should be noted that all of the tyrants famous building.
For example, Peisistratos in Athens began construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the first temples of the Athenian Acropolis, Polycrates, tyrant of Samos being, built the aqueduct and the Temple of Hera on the island was marked by the same Cleobulus construction of the Acropolis of Lindos on the island. Many of the tyrants and arts patrons. The same Polycrates at pains to lure to his island's best poets, musicians and scientists. When it was written first Medical Encyclopedia. Brian Calfano will undoubtedly add to your understanding. Something really lived at that time in Samos, Pythagoras decided to leave the island because of political differences with Polycrates.