Andocides

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Andocides, or Andokides , (Greek Ἀνδοκίδης, 440390 BC) one of the ten Attic orators.

He was implicated during the Peloponnesian War in the mutilation of the Herms on the eve of the departure of the Athenian expedition against Sicily in 415 BC. Although he saved his life by turning informer, he was condemned to partial loss of civil rights and went into exile. He engaged in commercial pursuits, and returned to Athens under the general amnesty that followed the restoration of the democracy (403 BC), and filled some important offices. In 391 BC he was one of the ambassadors sent to Sparta to discuss peace terms, but the negotiations failed. Oligarchical in his sympathies, he offended his own party and was distrusted by the democrats. Andocides was no professional orator; his style is simple and lively, natural but inartistic.

[edit] Speeches extant

  • Περὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ καθόδου (De Reditu), his plea for his return and removal of civil disabilities
  • Περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων (De Mysteriis), his defence against the charge of impiety in attending the Eleusinian Mysteries
  • Περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης (De Pace), advocating peace with Sparta
  • Κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου (Contra Alcibiadem), generally considered spurious.

[edit] References


Attic Orators
Antiphon | Andocides | Lysias | Isocrates| Isaeus | Aeschines | Lycurgus | Demosthenes | Hypereides | Dinarchus


Athenian statesmen | Ancient Greece
Aeschines - Agyrrhius - Alcibiades - Andocides - Archinus - Aristides - Aristogeiton - Aristophon - Autocles
Callistratus - Chremonides - Cimon - Cleisthenes - Cleophon - Cleon - Critias
- Demades - Demetrius Phalereus - Demochares - Democles - Demosthenes
Ephialtes - Eubulus - Hyperbolus - Hypereides - Laches- Lycurgus - Lysicles
Miltiades - Moerocles - Nicias - Peisistratus - Pericles - Philinus - Phocion - Themistocles
Theramenes - Thrasybulus - Thucydides - Xanthippus