Epainetus from Andros

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Epainetos from the Aegean island of Andros lived in the 4th century BC. BC He was between 355 and 350 BC. Caught with a strange woman and got into an affair because of it.

Epainetos was an acquaintance of the Athenian speaker and politician Stephanos and probably a former customer of his partner Neaira at a time when she had still worked as a hetaera . Whenever he was in Athens, he visited them both. At a time no longer precisely determinable between 355 and 350 BC. At the invitation of Stephanos, Epainetus was a guest at both of them in the country to celebrate a festival of sacrifice with them. The visit was unpleasant, however, because Epainetus was caught having sexual intercourse with Stephanos' daughter, Phano . Athenian law would have allowed Stephanos to kill Epainetus as a moichos (morality criminal). But he chose the alternative and only held his guest to extort a ransom as compensation. This possibility was also covered by Athenian law. Epainetus responded to Stephanos' request for a fine of 3000 drachmas and provided two Athenian citizens - Aristomachus and Nausiphilos - as guarantors. Thereupon Stephanos released him and waited for the money.

But Epainetos did not think of paying this money. For his part, he sued Stephanos for unauthorized detention. Although he admitted to having slept with Phano, this was completely justified, since Phano and Neaira are hetaera and Stephanos is a brothel keeper. Stephanos also deliberately lured him to set a trap for him. Thus he cannot be a moichos and cannot be punished as such. In addition, Neaira knew about the whole thing. Now Stephanos could have risked the trial, after all he was right. But there were several problems. On the one hand, the judges of Athens were elected lay judges who only had to be convinced by an indictment and defense speech. Going to court was therefore always an uncertainty. Furthermore, it is entirely possible that the judges would have believed that Phano, who grew up in the home of the famous and infamous hetaera, was also a hetaera. The biggest problem, however, was that a public trial would have caused quite a stir, and Phano, who had just been divorced, could hardly be married off.

Both parties agreed to let three private arbitrators ( diaitetai ) resolve the matter . Two of the three judges were the two guarantors provided by Epainetos Stephanos. As is usually the case in such proceedings, the judge's verdict ended with a settlement: Epainetus had to pay Stephanos 1,000 drachmas.

literature

credentials

  1. ↑ In addition Pseudo-Demosthenes (= Apollodoros ) 59: 64-71.
personal data
SURNAME Epainetus from Andros
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greeks from Andros
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 4th century BC BC or 3rd century BC Chr.