Agnonides
Encyclopedia
Agnonides was an ancient Athenian
demagogue
and sycophant
, a contemporary of Theophrastus
and Phocion
. The former was accused by Agnonides of impiety
, but was acquitted by the Areopagus
, and Theophrastus might have ruined his accuser had he been less generous. Agnonides was opposed to the Macedon
ian party at Athens, and called Phocion
a traitor, for which he was exiled, as soon as Alexander, son of Polysperchon, obtained possession of Athens. Afterwards, however, he obtained from Antipater
permission to return to his country through the mediation of Phocion. But the sycophant soon forgot what he owed to his benefactor, and not only continued to oppose the Macedonian party in the most vehement manner, but even induced the Athenians to sentence Phocion to death as a traitor, who had delivered the Piraeus
into the hands of Nicanor
. After he was executed, the Athenians came to regret their conduct towards Phocion, and put Agnonides to death to appease his manes
.
Agnonides was at times considered to have been the same person as the rhetoric
ian named Agnon
, but this identification is debated.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
demagogue
Demagogy
Demagogy or demagoguery is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears, vanities and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes...
and sycophant
Sycophant
Sycophancy means:# Obsequious flattery; servility.# The character or characteristic of a sycophant.Alternative phrases are often used such as:-Etymology:...
, a contemporary of Theophrastus
Theophrastus
Theophrastus , a Greek native of Eresos in Lesbos, was the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He came to Athens at a young age, and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death he attached himself to Aristotle. Aristotle bequeathed to Theophrastus his writings, and...
and Phocion
Phocion
Phocion was an Athenian statesman and strategos, and the subject of one of Plutarch's Parallel Lives....
. The former was accused by Agnonides of impiety
Impiety
Impiety is classically a lack of proper concern for the obligations owed to public religious observation or cult. Impiety was a main Pagan objection to Christianity, for unlike other initiates into mystery religions, early Christians refused to cast a pinch of incense before the images of the gods,...
, but was acquitted by the Areopagus
Areopagus
The Areopagus or Areios Pagos is the "Rock of Ares", north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the high Court of Appeal for criminal and civil cases in Athens. Ares was supposed to have been tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son Alirrothios .The origin...
, and Theophrastus might have ruined his accuser had he been less generous. Agnonides was opposed to the Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian party at Athens, and called Phocion
Phocion
Phocion was an Athenian statesman and strategos, and the subject of one of Plutarch's Parallel Lives....
a traitor, for which he was exiled, as soon as Alexander, son of Polysperchon, obtained possession of Athens. Afterwards, however, he obtained from Antipater
Antipater
Antipater was a Macedonian general and a supporter of kings Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. In 320 BC, he became Regent of all of Alexander's Empire. Antipater was one of the sons of a Macedonian nobleman called Iollas or Iolaus and his family were distant collateral relatives to the...
permission to return to his country through the mediation of Phocion. But the sycophant soon forgot what he owed to his benefactor, and not only continued to oppose the Macedonian party in the most vehement manner, but even induced the Athenians to sentence Phocion to death as a traitor, who had delivered the Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
into the hands of Nicanor
Nicanor
- Ancient history :* Nicanor , 4th century BCE; an officer of Cassandrus* Nicanor , 4th century BCE; Macedonian officer, governor of Media under Antigonus...
. After he was executed, the Athenians came to regret their conduct towards Phocion, and put Agnonides to death to appease his manes
Manes
In ancient Roman religion, the Manes or Di Manes are chthonic deities sometimes thought to represent the souls of deceased loved ones. They were associated with the Lares, Genii, and Di Penates as deities that pertained to domestic, local, and personal cult...
.
Agnonides was at times considered to have been the same person as the rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
ian named Agnon
Agnon
Agnon was an ancient Greek rhetorician, who wrote a work against rhetoric, which Quintilian calls "Rhetorices accusatio." Some modern scholars have considered this Agnon to be the same man as the demagogue Agnonides, the contemporary of Phocion, as the latter is in some manuscripts of Cornelius...
, but this identification is debated.