Editing Andocides (section)

==Life==
Andocides was the son of Leogoras, and was born in [[Athens]] around 440 BC.<ref>''Brill's New Pauly'' v.Andocides</ref> He belonged to the ancient [[Eupatrid]] family of the [[Kerykes]], who traced their lineage up to [[Odysseus]] and the god [[Hermes]].<ref name="pseudo">[[Pseudo-Plutarch]], ''[[Lives of the Ten Orators]]''</ref><ref name="pa">[[Plutarch]], ''Alcibiades'' 21</ref><ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 141</ref><ref>Andocides, ''De Reditu'' § 26</ref>

During his youth, Andocides seems to have been employed on various occasions as ambassador to [[Thessaly]], [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]], [[Molossia]], [[Thesprotia]], [[Italy]], and [[Sicily]].<ref>Andocides, ''Contra Alcibiadem'' § 41</ref> Although he was frequently attacked for his political opinions,<ref>Andocides, ''Contra Alcibiadem'' § 8</ref> he maintained his ground until, in 415 BC, he became involved in the charge brought against [[Alcibiades]] for having profaned the mysteries and mutilated the [[Herma|Herms]] on the eve of the departure of the [[Sicilian expedition|Athenian expedition]] against [[Sicily]]. It appeared particularly likely that Andocides was an accomplice in the latter of these crimes, which was believed to be a preliminary step towards overthrowing the democratic constitution, since the Herm standing close to his house in the [[phyle]] Aegeis was among the very few which had not been injured.<ref>[[Cornelius Nepos]], ''Alcibiades'' 3</ref><ref>Jan Otto Sluiter, ''lectiones Andocideae'' c. 3.</ref>

Andocides was accordingly seized and thrown into prison, but after some time recovered his freedom by a promise that he would become an informer and reveal the names of the real perpetrators of the crime; and on the suggestion of one Charmides or Timaeus,<ref name="pa"/><ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 48</ref> he mentioned four, all of whom were put to death. He is also said to have denounced his own father on the charge of profaning the mysteries, but to have rescued him again in the hour of danger - a charge he strenuously denied.<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis''</ref> But as Andocides was unable to clear himself from the charge, he was deprived of his rights as a citizen, and left Athens.<ref>Andocides, ''De Reditu'' § 25</ref>{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Andocides traveled about in various parts of Greece, and was chiefly engaged in commercial enterprise and in forming connections with powerful people.<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 137</ref> The means he employed to gain the friendship of powerful men were sometimes of the most disreputable kind; among which a service he rendered to a prince in [[Cyprus]] is mentioned in particular.<ref name="phot">[[Photios I of Constantinople]], ''[[Bibliotheca (Photius)|Bibliotheca]]''</ref>

In 411 BC, Andocides returned to Athens on the establishment of the [[oligarchy|oligarchic]] government of the [[The Four Hundred (oligarchy)|Four Hundred]], hoping that a certain service he had rendered the Athenian ships at Samos would secure him a welcome reception.<ref>Andocides, ''De Reditu'' §§ 11,12</ref> But no sooner were the oligarchs informed of the return of Andocides, than their leader [[Peisander (oligarch)|Peisander]] had him seized, and accused him of having supported the party opposed to them at Samos. During his trial, Andocides, who perceived the exasperation prevailing against him, leaped to the altar which stood in the court, and there assumed the attitude of a supplicant. This saved his life, but he was imprisoned. Soon afterwards, however, he was set free, or escaped from prison.<ref>Andocides, ''De Reditu'' § 15</ref><ref name="lysias29">[[Lysias]], ''Against Andocides'' § 29</ref>

Andocides then went to Cyprus, where for a time he enjoyed the friendship of [[Evagoras I|Evagoras]]; but, by some circumstance or other, he exasperated his friend, and was consigned to prison. Here again he escaped, and after the restoration of democracy in Athens and the abolition of the Four Hundred, he ventured once more to return to Athens; but as he was still suffering under a sentence of civil disenfranchisement, he endeavored by means of bribes to persuade the [[prytaneis]] to allow him to attend the assembly of the people. The latter, however, expelled him from the city.<ref name="lysias29"/> It was on this occasion, in 411 BC, that Andocides delivered the speech still extant "On his return", on which he petitioned for permission to reside at Athens, but in vain. In his third exile, Andocides went to reside in [[Ancient Elis|Elis]],<ref name="phot"/> and during the time of his absence from his native city, his house there was occupied by [[Cleophon (politician)|Cleophon]], the leading [[demagogue]].<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 146</ref>

Andocides remained in exile until after the overthrow of the tyranny of [[Thirty Tyrants|the Thirty]] by [[Thrasybulus]], when the general amnesty then proclaimed made him hope that its benefit would be extended to him also. He himself says that he returned to Athens from Cyprus,<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 132</ref> where he claimed to have great influence and considerable property.<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 4</ref> Because of the general amnesty, he was allowed to remain at Athens, enjoyed peace for the next three years, and soon recovered an influential position. According to [[Lysias]], it was scarcely ten days after his return that he brought an accusation against [[Archippus (poet)|Archippus]] or [[Aristippus]], which, however, he dropped on receiving a sum of money. During this period Andocides became a member of the [[Boule (ancient Greece)|boule]], in which he appears to have possessed a great influence, as well as in the popular assembly. He was [[gymnasiarch]] at the [[Hephaestaea]], was sent as [[architheorus]] to the [[Isthmian Games]] and [[Ancient Olympic Games|Olympic Games]], and was even entrusted with the office of keeper of the sacred treasury.

But in 400 BC, Callias, supported by [[Cephisius]], [[Agyrrhius]], [[Meletus]], and [[Epichares]], urged the necessity of preventing Andocides from attending the assembly, as he had never been formally freed from the civil disenfranchisement. Callias II also charged him with violating the laws respecting the temple at [[Eleusis]].<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 110</ref> The orator pleaded his case in the oration still extant "on the Mysteries" (περὶ τῶν μυστηρίων), in which he argued that he had not been involved in the profanation of the mysteries or the mutilation of the herms, that he had not violated the laws of the temple at Eleusis, that anyway he had received his citizenship back as a result of the amnesty, and that Callias was really motivated by a private dispute with Andocides over inheritance. He was acquitted. After this, he again enjoyed peace until 394 BC, when he was sent as ambassador to [[Sparta]] regarding the peace to be concluded in consequence of [[Conon]]'s victory off [[Cnidus]]. On his return, he was accused of illegal conduct during his embassy. The speech "On the peace with the Lacedaemonians" (περὶ τῆς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους εἰρήνης), which is still extant, refers to this affair. It was delivered in 393 BC (though some scholars place it in 391 BC). Andocides was found guilty, and sent into exile for the fourth time. He never returned afterwards, and seems to have died soon after this blow.

Andocides appears to have fathered no children, since he is described at the age of 70 as being childless,<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' §§ 146,148</ref> although the [[scholiast]] on [[Aristophanes]] mentions Antiphon as a son of Andocides. The large fortune which he had inherited from his father, or acquired in his commercial undertakings, was greatly diminished in the latter years of his life.<ref>Andocides, ''De Mysteriis'' § 144</ref><ref>[[Lysias]], ''Against Andocides'' § 31</ref>