Phrynion

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Phrynion was a wealthy citizen of Athens in the 4th century BC. Some episodes from his life are probably due to a between 343 and 340 BC. Judgment speech given in BC.

The speaker and politician Apollodorus described Phrynion as follows in his speech:

Phrynion was a man “ who lived a lavish and lavish lifestyle, as the elders of you must remember. "

Apparently the escapades of Phrynios were the talk of the town in Athens or at least in the minds of the citizens. Today, thanks to the speech against Neaira by Apollodorus, one of his affairs that had to do with that very Neaira is still preserved. At a young age Neaira was a hetaera in the posh brothel of the Nikarete in Corinth . One of their clients was Phrynion. 374 BC She got the opportunity to buy herself freely. However, having to raise the money to buy the ransom, she turned to several early customers for financial help. Phrynion not only raised the majority of the 2,000 drachmas , but also brought Neaira personally from Corinth to Athens.

They lived together in Athens for some time. Contrary to what was customary at the time, Phrynion took Neaira with him to various festivals. There both - certainly at Phrynion's request - behaved very improperly several times. Allegedly, both are said to have even had sexual intercourse in front of an audience . It is unclear whether these practices were a decisive factor - even as enslaved hetaerae it would have been unusual to have sexual intercourse in public - but sometime between the summers of 373 and 372 BC. BC Neaira left Phrynion. Apparently he treated Neaira badly overall. She retaliated in her own way and, in addition to her own things, took a few pieces from Phrynion's possession with her to her new home, Megara .

371 BC BC Neaira met the politician and speaker Stephanos , who came from Athens, in Megara . With him she returned to Athens because her situation in Megara was not very satisfactory. Apparently she believed she was safe from Phrynion by Stephanos' side. But after a short time he came to Stephanos' house with several helpers and took Neaira with him as his property. Such an act meant that he wanted to assert rights that a master had over his slave girl. But it is more than questionable that Neaira would have gone back to Athens in such a case. Why Phrynion did this is unclear. It is possible that he believed that Neaira was actually awarded as a slave. Another motive would be simple vindictiveness or the desire to get back the money paid for the release of Neaira. Stephanos then filed a lawsuit against Phrynion, who in turn responded with a counterclaim. Thus Neaira's status had to be clarified in court.

First she was able to return to Stephanos, who and two friends vouched for her; however, there was never a hearing. Both sides agreed to consult private arbitrators ( diaitetai ). They each selected a mediator and a third who was both acceptable. They also agreed to submit to the arbitration award and not take any further legal action.

The result, as is often the case in such arbitration proceedings, was a compromise that both Phrynion and Stephanos could live with. Neaira had no choice from the start anyway. It was found that she was not a slave but a freedwoman . However, she had to give back everything she had taken from the Phrynion household except clothing, jewelry and her self-purchased slaves. In addition, it should be equally available to both men sexually. The man she lived with had to pay for her livelihood. How long this agreement was kept is unclear because from then on Phrynion is never mentioned again in the sources.

literature

credentials

  1. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59,30, translated by Kai Brodersen
  2. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59:33
  3. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59:35
  4. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59.36
  5. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59.40
  6. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59.45
  7. ↑ Pseudo-Demosthenes 59: 46-48
personal data
SURNAME Phrynion
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Citizen of Athens
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 4th century BC Chr.