Hippodamus of Miletus
Hippodamos of Miletus (Greek Ἱππόδαμος ) was a Greek town planner and political theorists of antiquity, lived in the 5th century BC, but its exact survival data are not known.
He gained fame through the in ancient times was named after him " hippodamische system ". It was an orthogonal system of uniform and equal-sized plots ( insulae ). However Hippodamos is not the inventor of the orthogonal system itself Such structures already existed in the Near East and Egypt to much earlier times. Even in the Greek such systems have been regularly applied adhesive for start-ups in connection with the so-called great Greek colonization strip cities. The hippodamische system is often associated with the state form of democracy, which also brought poleis with other forms of government dithered systems for their maps in application. A compelling equating hippodamischem city layout and democratic government is therefore not possible, even if Hippodamos itself a democratic conception of the state represented (see below).
The ancient written sources bring Hippodamos with the development of several cities in conjunction. He is said in the founding of the city of Miletus, who after it was destroyed by the Persians, participated ( 479 BC). In addition, Thurii ( 445/444 BC) tells of his participation in the planning of the port of Piraeus ( 450 BC ) and the Panhellenic " model city ". Finally, he is said to have also participated in the investment of Rhodes 408 BC. However, this is unlikely since Hippodamos must have been at that time about 90 years old.
In addition Hippodamos is mentioned in the Aristotelian treatise policy as the first undertook to define the best constitution, without being a statesman.
See also: Hippodamisches scheme