Diodotus (Greek: Διόδοτος), son of Eucrates,[1] was an opponent to the proposal of Cleon – leader of the radical, imperialist faction in Athens – in 427 BC to kill all adult Mytilenean males and to enslave their women and children after the defeat of Mytilene[2] (see also Mytilenean revolt). He seems to represent the moderate faction in Athens (in favour of Pericles' policy).[3]
Diodotus' proposal won in the assembly,[4] so that in the end only Cleon's next proposal was carried out: to punish by death those Mytileneans who were sent by Paches to Athens[5] (which were a little over a thousand; this was probably about 10% of the adult male population of the rebelling cities on Lesbos. The execution took place without proper trial.[6]
Diodotus' one speech in Thucydides is all we know of him.
Notable quotationsedit
"The good citizen ought to triumph not by frightening his opponents but by beating them fairly in argument" (3.42.5).
"All, states and individuals, are alike prone to error, and there is no law that will prevent them; or why should men have exhausted the list of punishments in search of enactments to protect them from evildoers?" (3.45.3).[7]
Referencesedit
^Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 3, 41. (2007, April 11). In Wikisource, The Free Library. Retrieved 10:37, August 19, 2007, from wikisource
^Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 3, 36. (2007, April 11). In Wikisource, The Free Library. Retrieved 10:37, August 19, 2007, from wikisource
^Donald Kagan, The Peloponnesian War: Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict 431-404 BC, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003 (First published in the USA by Penguin Putnam 2003), page 109.
^Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 3, 49. (2007, April 11). In Wikisource, The Free Library. Retrieved 10:37, August 19, 2007, from wikisource
^Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War/Book 3, 50. (2007, April 11). In Wikisource, The Free Library. Retrieved 10:37, August 19, 2007, from wikisource
^Donald Kagan, The Peloponnesian War: Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict 431-404 BC, HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003 (First published in the USA by Penguin Putnam 2003), page 111.
^Robert B. Strassler, The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War, Free Press, 1996, pages 180–1.
January 01, 1970
diodotus, eucrates, diodotus, greek, Διόδοτος, eucrates, opponent, proposal, cleon, leader, radical, imperialist, faction, athens, kill, adult, mytilenean, males, enslave, their, women, children, after, defeat, mytilene, also, mytilenean, revolt, seems, repres. Diodotus Greek Diodotos son of Eucrates 1 was an opponent to the proposal of Cleon leader of the radical imperialist faction in Athens in 427 BC to kill all adult Mytilenean males and to enslave their women and children after the defeat of Mytilene 2 see also Mytilenean revolt He seems to represent the moderate faction in Athens in favour of Pericles policy 3 Diodotus proposal won in the assembly 4 so that in the end only Cleon s next proposal was carried out to punish by death those Mytileneans who were sent by Paches to Athens 5 which were a little over a thousand this was probably about 10 of the adult male population of the rebelling cities on Lesbos The execution took place without proper trial 6 Diodotus one speech in Thucydides is all we know of him Notable quotations edit The good citizen ought to triumph not by frightening his opponents but by beating them fairly in argument 3 42 5 All states and individuals are alike prone to error and there is no law that will prevent them or why should men have exhausted the list of punishments in search of enactments to protect them from evildoers 3 45 3 7 References edit Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War Book 3 41 2007 April 11 In Wikisource The Free Library Retrieved 10 37 August 19 2007 from wikisource Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War Book 3 36 2007 April 11 In Wikisource The Free Library Retrieved 10 37 August 19 2007 from wikisource Donald Kagan The Peloponnesian War Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict 431 404 BC HarperCollinsPublishers 2003 First published in the USA by Penguin Putnam 2003 page 109 Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War Book 3 49 2007 April 11 In Wikisource The Free Library Retrieved 10 37 August 19 2007 from wikisource Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War Book 3 50 2007 April 11 In Wikisource The Free Library Retrieved 10 37 August 19 2007 from wikisource Donald Kagan The Peloponnesian War Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict 431 404 BC HarperCollinsPublishers 2003 First published in the USA by Penguin Putnam 2003 page 111 Robert B Strassler The Landmark Thucydides A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War Free Press 1996 pages 180 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diodotus son of Eucrates amp oldid 1157689179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
