Androtion

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Androtion ( Greek  Ἀνδροτίων Androtíōn ; * around 410 BC; † after 343 BC) was a moderate-democratic Athenian statesman, orator and atthidographer (author of a history of Athens). He lived in the 4th century BC. Chr.

life and work

Androtion was the son of the sophistically educated politician Andron. He received his rhetoric instruction as a pupil of Isocrates . Since about 387 BC He was active in the field of politics. Not long before the start of the alliance war , which Athens 357–355 BC. BC against apostate allies, Androtion was together with Melanopos and Glauketes a member of an embassy that traveled to the Persian satrap Kariens, Maussolos . During the alliance war he served in 356/355 BC. As commander of the Attic garrison in Arkesine on the Cycladic island of Amorgos .

355/354 BC Androtion held the post of councilor and took the side of the party of the Athenian politician Aristophon , who was responsible for waging a war against the Persian king Artaxerxes III. entered. A ten-man commission, to which Androtion belonged and whose task was to collect arrears of war taxes, was responsible for obtaining the necessary financial resources. However, the peace party led by Eubulus was then able to bring about a political change. When the term of office of the Council of Five Hundred had expired and Androtion applied for the customary honoring of a wreath for it, his political opponent Euktemon tried to take advantage of the changed political situation by making 354/353 BC. BC started a process ( Graphe paranomon ) against androtion together with Diodorus . In these proceedings, Androtion was accused of having made the above-mentioned request illegal. Demosthenes , who was at the beginning of his career at that time, wrote the indictment speech, which is the 22nd speech he has received. Diodorus used this in court. But Androtion managed to get his acquittal. Around 343 BC He is said to have been banished and to have gone into exile in Megara .

Demosthenes and Aristotle praise Androtion's oratorical talent, but none of his speeches have survived. In his exile, Androtion wrote around 343 BC. A not preserved, but often quoted by ancient authors Atthis (History of Athens) in 8 books. In it he presented the political history in great detail. For example, according to the 68 preserved fragments in the 3rd book of 421 BC. The peace of Nicias was concluded and in the 6th book the 354 BC. BC took place Battle of Neon mentioned. Theseus was stylized by Androtion in his Atthis as the founder of Athenian democracy. The work was an important source for the state of the Athenians ( Athenaion politeia ) of Aristotle as well as for the later important atthidographer Philochoros .

Editions and translations

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Suda ; Zosimos von Askalon , Leben des Isokrates p. 257; Demosthenes 22.4 with Scholia.
  2. ↑ Demosthenes 24:12.
  3. ↑ Demosthenes 22: 42-68 and 24: 160-171.
  4. ↑ Aristotle, Ars rhetorica 3, 4.
  5. ↑ Pausanias 6.7; 10.8 among others
personal data
SURNAME Androtion
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Athenian politician, public speaker and atthidographer
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH after 343 BC Chr.