Andocides
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
One of the ten Attic orators, was born in Athens B. C. 467. In 415 he was involved with Alcibiades in the charge of having mutilated the Hermae, and was banished from Athens. He died in exile after leading a wandering and disreputable life. Only four of his orations have come down to us. Androclus or -cles. The slave of a Roman consular, was sentenced to be exposed to the wild beasts in the circus; but a lion which had been let loose upon him, exhibited signs of recognition, and began licking him. Upon inquiry it appeared that Androclus had run away from his master in Africa; and that, having taken refuge in a cave, a lion entered, went up to him, and held out his paw. Androclus extracted a large thorn which had entered it. Henceforth they lived together for some time, the lion catering for his benefactor. But at last, tired of this savage life, Androclus left the cave, was apprehended by some soldiers, brought to Rome, and con. demned to the wild beasts. He was pardoned, and presented with the lion, which he used to lead about the city. Androgeos or Androgeus. Son of Minos and Pasiphae, conquered all his opponents in the games of the Panathenaea at Athens, and was in consequence slain at the instigation of Aegeus . Minos made war on the Athenians to avenge the death of his son, and compelled them to send every year to Crete seven youths and seven damsels to be deand voured by the Minotaur. From this shame- -ful tribute they were delivered by Theseus . Andromache Daughter of Eetion, king of Thebes. She married Hector, son of Priam, and was the mother of Astyanax. Her parting with Hector, who was going to battle, is described in the Iliad, and has been deemed one of the most beautiful passages in that great work Pope's translation of the Iliad (Book (6) describes with great pathos and beauty the parting of Hector from om his his wife and child. The passage is too long for quotation, but this quatrain from it shows the style Thus having spoke, th' illustrious chief of Troy bad d'Stretch'd his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy; The babe chung crying to his his nurse's breast, Scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest."
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The facts of Andocides' life were settled long before 1900, and the 1000 Classical Characters entry still reads accurately in outline — though its birth date of 467 BC is about a generation too early; scholars place his birth around 440 BC. The line that he "died in exile after leading a wandering and disreputable life" leans on hostile ancient sources such as the speech Against Andocides once attributed to Lysias; modern accounts stress instead that he came home under the amnesty of 403 BC and served Athens as an envoy to Sparta in 392/1 BC before his final banishment. The four surviving speeches are still four, but the fourth, Against Alcibiades, is now generally judged not to be his work at all.
Written for this edition, 2026.