Demochares

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Demochares (* approx. 355 BC ; † 275 BC ) was an Athenian orator and statesman during the diadoch fights.

Demochares was a nephew of Demosthenes . Demochares spoke in vain against his extradition to Antipater at the end of the Lamian War in 322 BC. Chr. From. Since the pro-Macedonian party subsequently prevailed in Athens and nothing is heard from Demochares, it may be assumed that he was in exile in the following years. Only with the restoration of democracy by Demetrius I Poliorketes in 307 BC BC meets his name again in a prominent place. Since Demochares spoke out against the exaggerated honors that the Athenians bestowed on the Antigonids, he was named in 303 BC. Banished from the city.

In 298 BC BC he was called back, whereupon he took care of the expansion of the city fortifications. Because of his attempts to form an alliance with the Boeotians, he was named in 296 or 295 BC. He was sent into exile again, from which he only got out in 287 or 286 BC. Returned BC. In 280 BC He brought the Athenians to erect a memorial for his uncle Demosthenes.

Demochares was a friend of the Stoic Zeno of Kition , but he was also an opponent of the philosophers, in whom he saw a danger to the state. Therefore, in 306 BC he supported A Sophocles proposal to expel the philosophers from Attica. According to Cicero , Demochares was the author of a historical work. His oratorical qualities were appreciated by Polybius , but challenged by Timaeus .

literature

personal data
SURNAME Demochares
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek orator and statesman
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 275 BC Chr.