Peisistratos or Peisistratus (c. 607 BC-528 BC) was a Ancient Greek statesman who became the Tyrant of Athens following a (quite popular) coup and ruled in 561 BC, 559 BC-556 BC and 545 BC-528 BC. On three separate occasions, Peisistratos was drivien into exile, but he returned each time. His terms in office saw tremendous growth in Athenian culture. Most notably, Peisistratos saw to it that the works of Homer were permanently copied and archived.