Abstract

Anytos is thought to be the first person who corrupted an Athenian popular court for his own advantage (409 bc). However, this alleged deed had no known consequences for his political career or his reputation among Socratic writers. Therefore, this paper offers a critical study of the Greek literary tradition. It considers the hypothesis that Anytos was the object of a malicious allegation that could draw upon the gibes of ancient comedy. The paper traces the possible genealogy of Aristotle’s assertion (AP 27.5), and concludes that it is questionable to cite this alleged incident as proof that it was possible successfully to corrupt an Athenian court.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.