The group of the Seven Sages in the Septem Sapientium Convivium includes a number of figures
whose presence is problematic due to their association with autocratic power. Although the
invitation to the meeting was sent out by the tyrant Periander, he is nevertheless eliminated
from the central core of the Sages. This decision may be justified, in the first place, by the fact
that he is a tyrant and that there is a deep animosity towards this form of government in the
Convivium. Nevertheless, Periander was expected to fulfil a more important function in his
capacity as host, but, contrary to this scenario, his presence begins to recede, especially once
the eulogy of the democratic system starts, to the point that the honour of closing the banquet
falls to Solon. Even so, Pittacus has ruled over the destinies of Mytilene as an aesymnetes and
continues to figure among the sophoi, and the same can be said of Cleoboulus, the autocrat of
Lindos. Taking these factors into account, I propose to discuss in this paper the reason why
Pittacus and Cleoboulus were able to remain as sophoi, while Periander ended up being relegated
to a secondary place.