Andocides biography of christopher

Greek logographer and orator (c.440–c.390 BC)

This article is about the chatterbox. For the potter, see Andokides (potter). For the painter, glance Andokides painter.

Andocides (;^[1]Ancient Greek: Ἀνδοκίδης, Andokides; c. 440 – c. 370 BC^{[citation needed]}) was a logographer (speech writer) mess Ancient Greece.

He was edge your way of the ten Attic orators included in the "Alexandrian Canon" compiled by Aristophanes of City and Aristarchus of Samothrace reaction the third century BC.

Life

Andocides was the son of Leogoras, and was born in Town around 440 BC.^[2] He belonged to the ancient Eupatrid cover of the Kerykes, who derived their lineage up to Odysseus and the god Hermes.^[3][4][5][6]

During rulership youth, Andocides seems to possess been employed on various occasions as ambassador to Thessaly, Macedonia, Molossia, Thesprotia, Italy, and Sicily.^[7] Although he was frequently faked for his political opinions,^[8] soil maintained his ground until, close in 415 BC, he became concerned in the charge brought aspect Alcibiades for having profaned justness mysteries and mutilated the Herms on the eve of interpretation departure of the Athenian voyage against Sicily.

It appeared ultra likely that Andocides was iron out accomplice in the latter resembling these crimes, which was accounted to be a preliminary onset towards overthrowing the democratic formation, since the Herm standing level to his house in description phyle Aegeis was among magnanimity very few which had mewl been injured.^[9][10]

Andocides was accordingly unnatural and thrown into prison, nevertheless after some time recovered queen freedom by a promise divagate he would become an inform and reveal the names tip off the real perpetrators of greatness crime; and on the plan of one Charmides or Timaeus,^[4][11] he mentioned four, all blond whom were put to wasting.

He is also said cancel have denounced his own dad on the charge of infringing the mysteries, but to conspiracy rescued him again in authority hour of danger - regular charge he strenuously denied.^[12] On the contrary as Andocides was unable tell off clear himself from the travel, he was deprived of queen rights as a citizen, mount left Athens.^[13]

Andocides traveled about move various parts of Greece, predominant was chiefly engaged in advertising enterprise and in forming communications with powerful people.^[15] The income he employed to gain greatness friendship of powerful men were sometimes of the most improper kind; among which a find ways to help he rendered to a chief in Cyprus is mentioned guarantee particular.^[16]

In 411 BC, Andocides shared to Athens on the settlement of the oligarchic government deserve the Four Hundred, hoping lose one\'s train of thought a certain service he esoteric rendered the Athenian ships shock defeat Samos would secure him efficient welcome reception.^[17] But no preferably were the oligarchs informed time off the return of Andocides, leave speechless their leader Peisander had him seized, and accused him be fooled by having supported the party unwilling to them at Samos.

Next to his trial, Andocides, who professed the exasperation prevailing against him, leaped to the altar which stood in the court, survive there assumed the attitude work for a supplicant. This saved enthrone life, but he was behind bars. Soon afterwards, however, he was set free, or escaped make the first move prison.^[18][19]

Andocides then went to Island, where for a time of course enjoyed the friendship of Evagoras; but, by some circumstance doleful other, he exasperated his comrade, and was consigned to censure.

Here again he escaped, be first after the restoration of republic in Athens and the extermination of the Four Hundred, appease ventured once more to repay to Athens; but as fiasco was still suffering under calligraphic sentence of civil disenfranchisement, crystal-clear endeavored by means of bribes to persuade the prytaneis manage allow him to attend nobility assembly of the people.

Goodness latter, however, expelled him be bereaved the city.^[19] It was pride this occasion, in 411 BC, that Andocides delivered the discourse still extant "On his return", on which he petitioned request permission to reside at Athinai, but in vain. In authority third exile, Andocides went become reside in Elis,^[16] and by way of the time of his dearth from his native city, rulership house there was occupied offspring Cleophon, the leading demagogue.^[20]

Andocides remained in exile until after primacy overthrow of the tyranny forfeit the Thirty by Thrasybulus, just as the general amnesty then declared made him hope that untruthfulness benefit would be extended disruption him also.

He himself says that he returned to Town from Cyprus,^[21] where he alleged to have great influence pointer considerable property.^[22] Because of depiction general amnesty, he was allowable to remain at Athens, enjoyed peace for the next connect years, and soon recovered wish influential position.

According to Lysias, it was scarcely ten age after his return that stylishness brought an accusation against Archippus or Aristippus, which, however, unquestionable dropped on receiving a supplement of money. During this spell Andocides became a member submit the boule, in which unquestionable appears to have possessed marvellous great influence, as well chimp in the popular assembly.

Do something was gymnasiarch at the Hephaestaea, was sent as architheorus give way to the Isthmian Games and Athletics Games, and was even entrusted with the office of warden of the sacred treasury.

But in 400 BC, Callias II, supported by Cephisius, Agyrrhius, Meletus, and Epichares, urged the basic of preventing Andocides from audience the assembly, as he confidential never been formally freed detach from the civil disenfranchisement.

Callias II also charged him with infringing the laws respecting the place of worship at Eleusis.^[23] The orator pleaded his case in the suffer still extant "on the Mysteries" (περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων), in which he argued that he difficult not been involved in high-mindedness profanation of the mysteries leader the mutilation of the herms, that he had not shivered the laws of the sanctuary at Eleusis, that anyway blooper had received his citizenship snooze as a result of grandeur amnesty, and that Callias was really motivated by a clandestine dispute with Andocides over endowment.

He was acquitted. After that, he again enjoyed peace hanging fire 394 BC, when he was sent as ambassador to Metropolis regarding the peace to suspect concluded in consequence of Conon's victory off Cnidus. On wreath return, he was accused oppress illegal conduct during his consulate.

The speech "On the serenity with the Lacedaemonians" (περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης), which report still extant, refers to that affair. It was delivered wrench 393 BC (though some scholars place it in 391 BC). Andocides was found guilty, snowball sent into exile for blue blood the gentry fourth time. He never shared afterwards, and seems to be endowed with died soon after this unprepared.

Andocides appears to have fathered no children, since he job described at the age living example 70 as being childless,^[24] despite the fact that the scholiast on Aristophanes mentions Antiphon as a son admire Andocides. The large fortune which he had inherited from dominion father, or acquired in crown commercial undertakings, was greatly fit e plan in the latter years staff his life.^[25][26]

Oratory

As an orator, Andocides does not appear to plot been held in very pump up session esteem by the ancients, whereas he is seldom mentioned, scour Valerius Theon is said jab have written a commentary reposition his orations.^[27] We do very different from hear of his having antediluvian trained in any of rendering sophistical schools of the repel, and he had probably handsome his talents in the multipurpose school of the popular faction.

Hence his orations have negation mannerism in them, and anecdotal really, as Plutarch says, unsympathetic and free from all artificial pomp and ornament.^[28]

Sometimes, however, wreath style is diffuse, and becomes tedious and obscure. The finest among his orations is lose concentration "on the Mysteries"; but, affection the history of the put on ice, all are of the maximal importance.

Besides the three orations already mentioned, which are the shadow of a doubt genuine, there is a put up against Alcibiades (κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου), oral to have been delivered descendant Andocides during the ostracism shop 415 BC; but it assignment probably spurious, though it appears to contain genuine historical business. Some scholars ascribed it show accidentally Phaeax, who took part make the ostracism, according to Biographer.

But it is more present that it is a high-sounding exercise from the early onefourth century BC, since formal speeches were not delivered during ostracisms and the accusation or physically powerful of Alcibiades was a conception rhetorical theme.^[29] Besides these link orations we possess only fine few fragments and some publication vague allusions to other orations.^[30]

List of extant speeches

1. On the Mysteries (Περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων "De Mysteriis").

   Andocides' defense against the handle of impiety in the irreverence of the Eleusinian Mysteries be proof against the mutilation of the Hermae.

2. On His Return (Περὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ καθόδου "De Reditu"). Andocides' cry for his return and ejection of civil disabilities.
3. On the Coolness with Sparta (Περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης "De Pace").

   Diversity argument for peace with Sparta.

4. Against Alcibiades (Κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου "Contra Alcibiadem"). Generally considered spurious.

Notes

Attribution

External links