Constitution of the Athenians#Pseudo-Xenophon

Pseudo - Xenophon ( sometimes also: "Old Oligarch " ) is called an anonymous ancient Greek author, probably in the last third of the 5th century BC, after 430 and before 411 BC, a treatise on the " Constitution of Athens " has written that has been handed down among the writings of Xenophon, but not from this. The work should not be confused with the homonymous font Athenaion politeia which was written either by Aristotle or ( more likely) by one of his students.

Content

Pseudo- Xenophon's writing has oligarchic tendencies and is thus directed against the Athenian democracy, which increasingly came reeling towards the end of the Peloponnesian War (see oligarchic coup in 411 BC ). The origins of writing is probably due to this historical background. The unknown author criticizes the Athenian democracy that the " common masses " had so much influence. In fact, the power of influence of the nobility in Athens was also very limited at this time. The poor would have according to the author only interested in offices, which einbrächten a payment. Furthermore, the common people had already uneducated and there is too much bureaucracy. The nobility, however, will not be rewarded for his expenses in the war and have only the choice to participate or to establish a new order that Ps.- Xenophon as eunomia: means (such as " good order "). This will ultimately favored by the author, as a deep rift between the nobility and the demos was created. The writing thus represents a reflex on considerations of aristocratic circles, as they could transform the political system of Athens. But there are also interesting references to the treatments of metics ( non-locals ) and slaves.

Overall, this is, despite the severity of the language to a remarkable source because the author certainly met some proper findings, such as the political system of Athens this time concerning. Thus, in spite of rejection of democracy, the democratic system valued at as consistently consistently and correctly, and raised the question whether the Athenian naval power could also have a different form of government stock.

Issues / translations

• Gregor Weber: Pseudo - Xenophon. The Constitution of the Athenians. Greek and German. Darmstadt 2010, ISBN 978-3-534-14320-7. (Introduction, translation, text-critical notes and commentary )
• Robin Osborne: The Old Oligarch: Pseudo - Xenophon 's Constitution of the Athenians. 2nd edition, London 2004, ISBN 0-903625-31-8. (Introduction, translation and commentary )