Against Androtion

"Against Androtion" was a speech composed by Demosthenes in which he accused Androtion of making an illegal proposal. This was the first surviving speech of Demosthenes composed on public charges (γραφαί, graphai).[1]

Bust of Demosthenes (Louvre, Paris, France)

The case was brought in 355/4 by Diodoros and Euktemon, and concerned Androtion's proposal that the council of that year be awarded a crown for their services.[2] This was a customary award for the outgoing council every year, but the crown was only to be awarded to a council that had built a certain number of triremes that year.[3] Despite the council of 355/4 BC having built no triremes, Androtion proposed that the crown should be awarded.[3] After Androtion's proposal was passed, Euktemon and Diodorus brought a prosecution against Androtion claiming that the proposal had been illegal.[4]

  1. ^ Rowe, Galen O. (2000). "Anti-Isocratean Sentiment in Demosthenes' "Against Androtion"". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 49 (3): 278.
  2. ^ Harding, Philip (1976). "Androtion's Political Career". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 25 (2): 195.
  3. ^ a b MacDowell, D. M. (2009). Demosthenes the Orator. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 170.
  4. ^ MacDowell, D. M. (2009). Demosthenes the Orator. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 171.