DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0040
18
OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS.
taking revenge upon those petty states, from a more noble and glorious
enterprize. And during his life they continued quiet, not daring to move
so much as their tongues against him. Only towards the latter end of
his reign, when he was busied in the wars with remote countries, and
not at leisure to take notice of every little opposition, they refused to
entertain the banished persons, whom Alexander had commanded should
be restored in all the cities of Greece. However, they durst not break
out into open rebellion ; but gave secret orders to Leosthenes, one of their
captains, to levy an army in his own name, and be ready when they should
have occasion for him : Leosthenes obeyed their commands, and as soon
as certain news was brought, that Alexander was dead in Persia, being
joined by some others of the Grecian states, proclaimed open war against
the Macedonians, in defence of the liberty of Greece. But being in the
end totally defeated by Antipater, they were forced to entertain a garrison
in Munychia, and submit to what condition the conqueror pleased to im-
pose upon them. He therefore changed their form of government, and
instituted an oligarchy, depriving all those that were not worth two thou-
sand drachms of the right of suffrage ; and the better to keep them
quiet, all mutinous and disaffected persons he transplanted into Thrace.
And by this means the supreme power came into the hands of about
nine thousand.
About four years after, Antipater died, and the city fell into the hands
of Cassander, who succeeded in the kingdom of Macedon. From him
they made many attempts to free themselves, and regain their beloved
democracy, but were in the end forced to submit themselves, in the third
year of the 115th Olympiad, and accept of a garrison like to that which
Antipater had imposed upon them, to live under the same form of go-
vernment, and obey any person that the conqueror should nominate to
the supreme power in it. The man appointed to be their governor was
Demetrius the Phalerean, who, as Diogenes Laertius (1) reports, was of
the family of Conon, and studied philosophy under Theophrastus. He
used them with all possible kindness and moderation, enlarged their re-
venues, beautified their city with magnificent structures, and restored it
almost to its former lustre ; and they in requital of these favours, be-
stowed on him all the honours which in so poor a condition they were
able to give, erecting to him three hundred statues, according to the
number of days in the Attic year, most of which were on horseback (2),
But all this was the effect of flattery and dissimulation, rather than any
real respect to him ; all his moderation, all the benefits he had conferred
on them could not beget in them any sincere affection for him ; they still
hated him, though they had no other reason for it than that he was set
over them by Cassander ; and though their power was gone, yet their
spirits were still too high to brook any thing that savoured of tyranny.
And this in a few years was made manifest; for when Demetrius PoSior-
cetes, the son of Antigonus, took up arms, as was pretended, in defence
of the liberty of Greece, they received him with loud acclamations, and
all possible expressions of joy ; compelled the Phalerean to secure him-
self by flight, in his absence condemned him to die, and (ay in wait to
apprehend him, and bring him to execution ; and when they could not
compass his person, Vented their rage and malice upon his statues, which
[1) Demetrius
(2) Plmii. Hist, &c
OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS.
taking revenge upon those petty states, from a more noble and glorious
enterprize. And during his life they continued quiet, not daring to move
so much as their tongues against him. Only towards the latter end of
his reign, when he was busied in the wars with remote countries, and
not at leisure to take notice of every little opposition, they refused to
entertain the banished persons, whom Alexander had commanded should
be restored in all the cities of Greece. However, they durst not break
out into open rebellion ; but gave secret orders to Leosthenes, one of their
captains, to levy an army in his own name, and be ready when they should
have occasion for him : Leosthenes obeyed their commands, and as soon
as certain news was brought, that Alexander was dead in Persia, being
joined by some others of the Grecian states, proclaimed open war against
the Macedonians, in defence of the liberty of Greece. But being in the
end totally defeated by Antipater, they were forced to entertain a garrison
in Munychia, and submit to what condition the conqueror pleased to im-
pose upon them. He therefore changed their form of government, and
instituted an oligarchy, depriving all those that were not worth two thou-
sand drachms of the right of suffrage ; and the better to keep them
quiet, all mutinous and disaffected persons he transplanted into Thrace.
And by this means the supreme power came into the hands of about
nine thousand.
About four years after, Antipater died, and the city fell into the hands
of Cassander, who succeeded in the kingdom of Macedon. From him
they made many attempts to free themselves, and regain their beloved
democracy, but were in the end forced to submit themselves, in the third
year of the 115th Olympiad, and accept of a garrison like to that which
Antipater had imposed upon them, to live under the same form of go-
vernment, and obey any person that the conqueror should nominate to
the supreme power in it. The man appointed to be their governor was
Demetrius the Phalerean, who, as Diogenes Laertius (1) reports, was of
the family of Conon, and studied philosophy under Theophrastus. He
used them with all possible kindness and moderation, enlarged their re-
venues, beautified their city with magnificent structures, and restored it
almost to its former lustre ; and they in requital of these favours, be-
stowed on him all the honours which in so poor a condition they were
able to give, erecting to him three hundred statues, according to the
number of days in the Attic year, most of which were on horseback (2),
But all this was the effect of flattery and dissimulation, rather than any
real respect to him ; all his moderation, all the benefits he had conferred
on them could not beget in them any sincere affection for him ; they still
hated him, though they had no other reason for it than that he was set
over them by Cassander ; and though their power was gone, yet their
spirits were still too high to brook any thing that savoured of tyranny.
And this in a few years was made manifest; for when Demetrius PoSior-
cetes, the son of Antigonus, took up arms, as was pretended, in defence
of the liberty of Greece, they received him with loud acclamations, and
all possible expressions of joy ; compelled the Phalerean to secure him-
self by flight, in his absence condemned him to die, and (ay in wait to
apprehend him, and bring him to execution ; and when they could not
compass his person, Vented their rage and malice upon his statues, which
[1) Demetrius
(2) Plmii. Hist, &c