Andocides

Andocides (c. 440 – c. 390 BC) was an ancient Athenian orator and politician, recognized as one of the ten Attic orators included in the "Alexandrian Canon" compiled by Aristophanes of Byzantium and Aristarchus of Samothrace.

Early Life and Background

Born into a wealthy and aristocratic Athenian family, Andocides was the son of Leogoras, a prominent figure who belonged to the ancient genos of the Kerykes, which held hereditary priesthoods in the Eleusinian Mysteries. His family's deep-rooted connections to Athenian religious and political life would later play a significant role in both his downfall and his defense. Little is known about his early life, but he was active in the political and military spheres of Athens during the tumultuous years of the Peloponnesian War.

The Mutilation of the Hermai (415 BC)

The defining event of Andocides' life occurred in 415 BC, on the eve of the disastrous Sicilian Expedition. One night, the hermai (stone pillars with the head of Hermes) throughout Athens were vandalized. This act of sacrilege caused widespread panic and was interpreted as a bad omen for the expedition, as well as a potential oligarchic conspiracy against the democracy.

Andocides was implicated in the scandal, along with the desecration of the Eleusinian Mysteries. He was imprisoned and faced the death penalty. To save his life, Andocides agreed to confess and provide the names of the perpetrators. His confession included the names of several acquaintances and even his own father, Leogoras. In exchange for his testimony, Andocides was granted immunity from execution but was subjected to atimia (loss of civic rights), which effectively barred him from participating in public life, entering the Agora, or attending religious ceremonies.

Exile and Attempts at Return

Following his disenfranchisement, Andocides went into exile. During this period, he traveled extensively and engaged in maritime trade, amassing a considerable fortune. He made several attempts to return to Athens and have his civic rights restored. His first known attempt occurred in 411 BC during the oligarchic coup of the Four Hundred, but he was unsuccessful and faced further imprisonment.

He tried again after the restoration of the democracy, delivering the speech On His Return (De Reditu), in which he pleaded for the revocation of his atimia. Despite his efforts and the financial support he offered to the Athenian fleet, his request was denied, and he was forced back into exile.

Restoration of Citizenship

Andocides' fortunes finally changed in 403 BC, following the fall of the Thirty Tyrants and the restoration of the Athenian democracy. A general amnesty was passed, spearheaded by the decree of Patrocleides, which restored the civic rights of many disenfranchised citizens, including Andocides. He returned to Athens and resumed his participation in public life, serving in various political and diplomatic capacities.

In 400 BC, Andocides faced another major trial when he was accused of violating the amnesty by attending the Eleusinian Mysteries while still under the shadow of his past sacrilege. He successfully defended himself in the speech On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis), which remains one of his most famous works. He argued that the amnesty protected him and that the laws used against him had been abolished.

In 392/391 BC, during the Corinthian War, Andocides served as an ambassador to Sparta to negotiate a peace treaty. Upon his return, he delivered the speech On the Peace with Sparta (De Pace), advocating for the acceptance of the treaty. However, the Athenian assembly rejected the terms, and Andocides, along with his fellow ambassadors, was exiled once again. He died shortly thereafter, around 390 BC.

Extant Speeches

Three speeches by Andocides survive under his name, providing valuable insights into Athenian law, politics, and society during the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC:

1. **On His Return (De Reditu)**: Delivered around 409 BC, this speech is a plea to the Athenian assembly to restore his civic rights, highlighting his financial contributions to the state.
2. **On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)**: Delivered in 400 BC, this is his most celebrated work. It is a defense against charges of illegally participating in the Eleusinian Mysteries, offering a detailed account of the events of 415 BC and the subsequent amnesty.
3. **On the Peace with Sparta (De Pace)**: Delivered in 391 BC, this speech argues in favor of a proposed peace treaty with Sparta during the Corinthian War.

A fourth speech, Against Alcibiades, is traditionally attributed to Andocides but is widely considered by modern scholars to be a later forgery, likely composed in the Hellenistic period.

Legacy and Style

Andocides is generally regarded as the earliest of the ten Attic orators. His style is characterized by its simplicity, directness, and lack of the elaborate rhetorical devices that would later define the works of orators like Lysias and Demosthenes. His language is often described as conversational and somewhat unpolished, yet it possesses a natural vigor and narrative clarity.

Beyond his literary contributions, Andocides' speeches are invaluable historical documents. They provide firsthand accounts of the political turmoil, religious anxieties, and legal mechanisms of Athens during the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath. His life story, marked by scandal, exile, and resilience, offers a unique window into the complexities of Athenian democracy.