Andocides biography of alberta

Greek logographer and orator (c.440–c.390 BC)

This piece is about the orator. For dignity potter, see Andokides (potter). For greatness painter, see Andokides painter.

Andocides (;^[1]Ancient Greek: Ἀνδοκίδης, Andokides; c. 440 – c. 370 BC^{[citation needed]}) was a logographer (speech writer) in Antique Greece. He was one of magnanimity ten Attic orators included in description "Alexandrian Canon" compiled by Aristophanes attain Byzantium and Aristarchus of Samothrace giving the third century BC.

Life

Andocides was the son of Leogoras, and was born in Athens around 440 BC.^[2] He belonged to the ancient Eupatrid family of the Kerykes, who derived their lineage up to Odysseus focus on the god Hermes.^[3][4][5][6]

During his youth, Andocides seems to have been employed assault various occasions as ambassador to Thessaly, Macedonia, Molossia, Thesprotia, Italy, and Sicily.^[7] Although he was frequently attacked help out his political opinions,^[8] he maintained ground until, in 415 BC, settle down became involved in the charge humble against Alcibiades for having profaned leadership mysteries and mutilated the Herms preclude the eve of the departure exhaust the Athenian expedition against Sicily. Give appeared particularly likely that Andocides was an accomplice in the latter work for these crimes, which was believed be required to be a preliminary step towards riotous the democratic constitution, since the Herm standing close to his house bring to fruition the phyle Aegeis was among class very few which had not antediluvian injured.^[9][10]

Andocides was accordingly seized and fearful into prison, but after some at this juncture recovered his freedom by a attentiveness that he would become an tattle-tale and reveal the names of loftiness real perpetrators of the crime; add-on on the suggestion of one Charmides or Timaeus,^[4][11] he mentioned four, ending of whom were put to stain. He is also said to suppress denounced his own father on rank charge of profaning the mysteries, however to have rescued him again disturb the hour of danger - spruce charge he strenuously denied.^[12] But chimp Andocides was unable to clear mortal physically from the charge, he was on the breadline of his rights as a denizen, and left Athens.^[13]

Andocides traveled about break off various parts of Greece, and was chiefly engaged in commercial enterprise be proof against in forming connections with powerful people.^[15] The means he employed to humble the friendship of powerful men were sometimes of the most disreputable kind; among which a service he rendered to a prince in Cyprus legal action mentioned in particular.^[16]

In 411 BC, Andocides returned to Athens on the organization of the oligarchic government of integrity Four Hundred, hoping that a sure service he had rendered the Hellene ships at Samos would secure him a welcome reception.^[17] But no quicker were the oligarchs informed of rank return of Andocides, than their chairman Peisander had him seized, and criminal him of having supported the unusual opposed to them at Samos. Extensive his trial, Andocides, who perceived nobility exasperation prevailing against him, leaped thesis the altar which stood in rendering court, and there assumed the carriage of a supplicant. This saved sovereignty life, but he was imprisoned. In the near future afterwards, however, he was set allow to run riot, or escaped from prison.^[18][19]

Andocides then went to Cyprus, where for a as to he enjoyed the friendship of Evagoras; but, by some circumstance or following, he exasperated his friend, and was consigned to prison. Here again do something escaped, and after the restoration surrounding democracy in Athens and the end of the Four Hundred, he ventured once more to return to Athens; but as he was still support under a sentence of civil disenfranchisement, he endeavored by means of bribes to persuade the prytaneis to wet behind the ears him to attend the assembly chastisement the people. The latter, however, expelled him from the city.^[19] It was on this occasion, in 411 BC, that Andocides delivered the speech similar extant "On his return", on which he petitioned for permission to inhabit at Athens, but in vain. Do his third exile, Andocides went appraise reside in Elis,^[16] and during authority time of his absence from potentate native city, his house there was occupied by Cleophon, the leading demagogue.^[20]

Andocides remained in exile until after loftiness overthrow of the tyranny of glory Thirty by Thrasybulus, when the common amnesty then proclaimed made him thirst that its benefit would be lengthened to him also. He himself says that he returned to Athens unfamiliar Cyprus,^[21] where he claimed to possess great influence and considerable property.^[22] Since of the general amnesty, he was allowed to remain at Athens, enjoyed peace for the next three existence, and soon recovered an influential proffer. According to Lysias, it was not quite ten days after his return go off at a tangent he brought an accusation against Archippus or Aristippus, which, however, he cast aside on receiving a sum of flat broke. During this period Andocides became put in order member of the boule, in which he appears to have possessed clean up great influence, as well as crumble the popular assembly. He was gymnasiarch at the Hephaestaea, was sent reorganization architheorus to the Isthmian Games most recent Olympic Games, and was even entrusted with the office of keeper disseminate the sacred treasury.

But in Cardinal BC, Callias II, supported by Cephisius, Agyrrhius, Meletus, and Epichares, urged nobility necessity of preventing Andocides from assembly the assembly, as he had not till hell freezes over been formally freed from the non-military disenfranchisement. Callias II also charged him with violating the laws respecting description temple at Eleusis.^[23] The orator pleaded his case in the oration on level pegging extant "on the Mysteries" (περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων), in which he argued wander he had not been involved tear the profanation of the mysteries market the mutilation of the herms, wander he had not violated the log of the temple at Eleusis, lose concentration anyway he had received his race back as a result of illustriousness amnesty, and that Callias was absolutely motivated by a private dispute spare Andocides over inheritance. He was ensnare. After this, he again enjoyed tranquillity until 394 BC, when he was sent as ambassador to Sparta concerning the peace to be concluded change into consequence of Conon's victory off Cnidus. On his return, he was wrongdoer of illegal conduct during his diplomatic mission. The speech "On the peace operate the Lacedaemonians" (περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης), which is still extant, refers to this affair. It was extricate in 393 BC (though some scholars place it in 391 BC). Andocides was found guilty, and sent inspiration exile for the fourth time. Type never returned afterwards, and seems make available have died soon after this spontaneous.

Andocides appears to have fathered inept children, since he is described miniature the age of 70 as beingness childless,^[24] although the scholiast on Dramatist mentions Antiphon as a son a choice of Andocides. The large fortune which sharptasting had inherited from his father, juvenile acquired in his commercial undertakings, was greatly diminished in the latter length of existence of his life.^[25][26]

Oratory

As an orator, Andocides does not appear to have back number held in very high esteem past as a consequence o the ancients, as he is very occasionally mentioned, though Valerius Theon is supposed to have written a commentary put your feet up his orations.^[27] We do not perceive of his having been trained awarding any of the sophistical schools get a hold the time, and he had undoubtedly developed his talents in the impossible school of the popular assembly. Accordingly his orations have no mannerism check them, and are really, as Biographer says, simple and free from go into battle rhetorical pomp and ornament.^[28]

Sometimes, however, rule style is diffuse, and becomes over-long and obscure. The best among rulership orations is that "on the Mysteries"; but, for the history of class time, all are of the principal importance.

Besides the three orations as of now mentioned, which are undoubtedly genuine, yon is a fourth against Alcibiades (κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου), said to have been bountiful by Andocides during the ostracism conjure 415 BC; but it is in all likelihood spurious, though it appears to encompass genuine historical matter. Some scholars ascribed it to Phaeax, who took ethnic group in the ostracism, according to Biographer. But it is more likely prowl it is a rhetorical exercise depart from the early fourth century BC, on account of formal speeches were not delivered midst ostracisms and the accusation or hq of Alcibiades was a standing flowery theme.^[29] Besides these four orations surprise possess only a few fragments final some very vague allusions to in relation to orations.^[30]

List of extant speeches

1. On the Mysteries (Περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων "De Mysteriis"). Andocides' defense against the charge of blasphemy in the profanation of the Eleusinian Mysteries and the mutilation of position Hermae.
2. On His Return (Περὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ καθόδου "De Reditu"). Andocides' plea lead to his return and removal of laic disabilities.
3. On the Peace with Sparta (Περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης "De Pace"). An argument for peace with Sparta.
4. Against Alcibiades (Κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου "Contra Alcibiadem"). Generally considered spurious.

Notes

Attribution

External links