Cleonymos (Athens)
Cleonymos ( Κλεώνυμος ) was an Athenian politician at the time of the Peloponnesian War . It was the target of ridicule in Greek comedy, but is only traceable for about a decade (from 426 to 415 BC).
Life
The first known message from Cleonymus comes from July 426 BC. When he applied for the second decree in favor of Methone in Thrace. 426/425 BC He made a further motion to increase the tribute of the Attic League . 415 BC He was very active in investigations into the Hermen crime and was able to ensure that informers were rewarded with 1,000 drachmas.
Contemporary poets of Greek comedy, especially Aristophanes , very often mocked Cleonymus. Due to the violence and frequency of the attacks in the comedies, Cleonymus is likely to have been an important representative of the Athens democratic party. Aristophanes characterizes him as tall, fat, gourmet and boastful; besides, he is said to have been a curmudgeon, deceiver and coward. To achieve a humorous effect, the poet often uses the motif that Cleonymus was in a fight - presumably when Delion was defeated in 424 BC. - threw away his shield. It cannot be determined to what extent these attacks apply; but the representation of Aristophanes probably also contains strong exaggerations. This poet mentions Cleonymus for the last time in 414 BC. In his comedy The Birds . Therefore, the criticized politician is likely to have either withdrawn from politics or died.
literature
- Heinrich Swoboda : Kleonymos 1). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XI, 1, Stuttgart 1921, Col. 729 f.
Remarks
- ↑ Inscriptiones Graecae (IG) I³ 61 , lines 32-56; 68.
- ^ Andokides 1:27 .
- ^ Collection of numerous Aristophanes passages in Swoboda, RE XI 1, Sp. 730.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cleonymus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Athenian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr. |