Aeaces (father of Polycrates)

[2] His wealth and power is also suggested by his ability to attract the poets Ibycus and Anacreon to his circle – the former wrote poetry for the young Polycrates, while the latter was supposedly his tutor.

[3][4] A large seated statue of a goddess from the mid-sixth century BC, erected on the Astypalaea (the Samian Acropolis) bears an inscription identifying its dedicator as Aeaces.

The inscription says: Αἐάκης ἀνέθηκενὁ Βρύχωνος ⋮ ὃς τῆιἭρηι ⋮ τὴν σύλην ⋮ ἔ-πρησεν ⋮ κατὰ τὴνἐπίστασιν.Aeaces dedicated this,the son of Brychon, heseized (or burnt)the booty for Hera,during his period of commandThis Aeaces is generally identified with the father of Polycrates, despite the date of the inscription.

M. White suggests that inscription made by Aeaces II in order to emphasise his hereditary right to rule.

It is not clear whether the inscription reveals Aeaces as the sole ruler of Samos (as his son would later be), or as just one powerful man among many.