The "Constitution of the Athenians" (Greek: Ἀθηναίων πολιτεία, Athenaion Politeia), also known as "On the Athenian State", is a short treatise on the government and society of classical Athens. Its date and authorship have been the subject of much dispute. The treatise discusses the organisation of the Athenian government, focusing particularly on the relationship between Athens' democracy and its status as a naval power.
Though the treatise was once attributed to Xenophon, amongst whose works it was preserved, it is now taken not to have been his work.[1] The author of the work is sometimes referred to as the Old Oligarch – a name first used by Gilbert Murray.[2] Scholars disagree on the author's political views. Though most see the work as sincere and the author as genuinely oligarchic, some have seen the work as an intellectual exercise by an author who does not sincerely believe the arguments that he advances.[3]
Many scholars have tried to identify Pseudo-Xenophon with a known historical figure, though these attempts “have not yielded good results”.[4] One possible author who has been frequently proposed is Critias, who would become one of the Thirty Tyrants in 404. However, there is little evidence to support this position,[5] and Critias’ philosophy does not seem to match that of the Old Oligarch: for instance, the concept of justice proposed at Constitution 1.2 differs from Critias’ ideas on the subject.[6]
Date
Dates suggested for the Constitution of the Athenians range from as early as 443 to as late as 406 BC.[7] Most scholars favour a date sometime during the Archidamian War.[7] A frequently cited terminus ante quem for the work is Brasidas’ expedition in 424; this was suggested by Roscher as having disproved the assertion at §2.5 that land powers could not send expeditionary forces far from home. However, Harold Mattingly argues that the work could in fact postdate this, as Brasidas' expedition was a drastic exception to the rule that land powers did not mount distant expeditions.[8] In fact, Mattingly argues, there is evidence that the work was composed later than is usually thought: he argues that the festival of the Hephaistia, mentioned at §3.4, was instituted in 421/0 BC, puts the Constitution after Brasidas' expedition.[9]
Content
After an introduction in which the author lays out his thesis that, though he may dislike the Athenian system of government, he acknowledges that it is well-designed for its own purposes, the Old Oligarch begins to discuss specific aspects of the Athenian system and how they work to advance Athenian democratic interests.[10]
The Constitution of the Athenians focuses on the interdependency between Athens’ naval supremacy and its democracy.[4] The author discusses three features he considered characteristic of the Athenian democratic system. These were that the system benefited the common people, that it allowed social vices to be common, and that it was not interested in the pursuit of eunomia (“good order”).[11]
Horn, Robert C. (1945). "The Constitution of the Athenians". The Classical Weekly. 38 (23). doi:10.2307/4342124. JSTOR 4342124.
Mattingly, Harold B. (1997). "The Date and Purpose of the Pseudo-Xenophon Constitution of Athens". The Classical Quarterly. 47 (2): 352–357. doi:10.1093/cq/47.2.352.
Nakategawa, Yoshio (1995). "Athenian Democracy and the Concept of Justice in Pseudo-Xenophon's "Athenaion Politeia"". Hermes. 123 (1). JSTOR 4477057.
Norwood, Gilbert (1930). "The Earliest Prose Work of Athens". The Classical Journal. 25 (5).
Roberts, Jennifer Tolbert (2011). Athens on Trial: The Antidemocratic Tradition in Western Thought. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN9781400821327.
Sealey, Raphael (1973). "The Origins of "Demokratia"". California Studies in Classical Antiquity. 6. doi:10.2307/25010657. JSTOR 25010657.
External links
Pseudo-Xenophon, translated by E. G. Marchant
March 03, 2023
constitution, athenians, pseudo, xenophon, constitution, athenians, greek, Ἀθηναίων, πολιτεία, athenaion, politeia, also, known, athenian, state, short, treatise, government, society, classical, athens, date, authorship, have, been, subject, much, dispute, tre. The Constitution of the Athenians Greek Ἀ8hnaiwn politeia Athenaion Politeia also known as On the Athenian State is a short treatise on the government and society of classical Athens Its date and authorship have been the subject of much dispute The treatise discusses the organisation of the Athenian government focusing particularly on the relationship between Athens democracy and its status as a naval power Contents 1 Authorship 2 Date 3 Content 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Works cited 5 External linksAuthorship EditThough the treatise was once attributed to Xenophon amongst whose works it was preserved it is now taken not to have been his work 1 The author of the work is sometimes referred to as the Old Oligarch a name first used by Gilbert Murray 2 Scholars disagree on the author s political views Though most see the work as sincere and the author as genuinely oligarchic some have seen the work as an intellectual exercise by an author who does not sincerely believe the arguments that he advances 3 Many scholars have tried to identify Pseudo Xenophon with a known historical figure though these attempts have not yielded good results 4 One possible author who has been frequently proposed is Critias who would become one of the Thirty Tyrants in 404 However there is little evidence to support this position 5 and Critias philosophy does not seem to match that of the Old Oligarch for instance the concept of justice proposed at Constitution 1 2 differs from Critias ideas on the subject 6 Date EditDates suggested for the Constitution of the Athenians range from as early as 443 to as late as 406 BC 7 Most scholars favour a date sometime during the Archidamian War 7 A frequently cited terminus ante quem for the work is Brasidas expedition in 424 this was suggested by Roscher as having disproved the assertion at 2 5 that land powers could not send expeditionary forces far from home However Harold Mattingly argues that the work could in fact postdate this as Brasidas expedition was a drastic exception to the rule that land powers did not mount distant expeditions 8 In fact Mattingly argues there is evidence that the work was composed later than is usually thought he argues that the festival of the Hephaistia mentioned at 3 4 was instituted in 421 0 BC puts the Constitution after Brasidas expedition 9 Content EditAfter an introduction in which the author lays out his thesis that though he may dislike the Athenian system of government he acknowledges that it is well designed for its own purposes the Old Oligarch begins to discuss specific aspects of the Athenian system and how they work to advance Athenian democratic interests 10 The Constitution of the Athenians focuses on the interdependency between Athens naval supremacy and its democracy 4 The author discusses three features he considered characteristic of the Athenian democratic system These were that the system benefited the common people that it allowed social vices to be common and that it was not interested in the pursuit of eunomia good order 11 References EditCitations Edit Horn 1945 p 182 Norwood 1930 p 373 Roberts 2011 p 52 a b Nakategawa 1995 p 29 Horn 1945 p 29 Nakategawa 1995 p 44 a b Mattingly 1997 p 352 Mattingly 1997 p 353 Mattingly 1997 pp 353 4 Sealey 1973 pp 255 256 Nakategawa 1995 pp 33 34 Works cited Edit Horn Robert C 1945 The Constitution of the Athenians The Classical Weekly 38 23 doi 10 2307 4342124 JSTOR 4342124 Mattingly Harold B 1997 The Date and Purpose of the Pseudo Xenophon Constitution of Athens The Classical Quarterly 47 2 352 357 doi 10 1093 cq 47 2 352 Nakategawa Yoshio 1995 Athenian Democracy and the Concept of Justice in Pseudo Xenophon s Athenaion Politeia Hermes 123 1 JSTOR 4477057 Norwood Gilbert 1930 The Earliest Prose Work of Athens The Classical Journal 25 5 Roberts Jennifer Tolbert 2011 Athens on Trial The Antidemocratic Tradition in Western Thought Princeton Princeton University Press ISBN 9781400821327 Sealey Raphael 1973 The Origins of Demokratia California Studies in Classical Antiquity 6 doi 10 2307 25010657 JSTOR 25010657 External links EditPseudo Xenophon translated by E G Marchant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Constitution of the Athenians Pseudo Xenophon amp oldid 1139131617 Authorship, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
