The Law of Eukrates (336 B.C.): a "democratic trick"?

• Main Author: Erika BIANCHI
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca 2013-07-01
• Series: Studia Historica: Historia Antigua
• Subjects: derecho griego; instituciones políticas; atenas; siglo iv a.c.
• Online Access: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/0213-2052/article/view/10055

Since its discovery in 1952, the much debated text of the law of Eukrates has been variously interpreted to support several different political scenarios concerning Athens in the age of Demosthenes. The present interpretation puts the provision under a new light, reading it as a sort of «democratic trick» conceived by Demosthenes and his group to prevent a potential, harmful attack on the Areopagos Council on the part of those Athenian politicians who opposed Demosthenes and supported Philip. Thus, according to this view, the chief motive behind Eukrates' Law would not have been the fear of a tyranny, but rather the intention of protecting the Areopagos council, a powerful and crucial any of Demosthenes' policy.