Δήμοι (fr. 139)

465

eponymous archon for 546/5 BCE.287 McGregor, following Wilamowitz 1893
1.181 and Edmonds in their conviction that Peisistratus (fr. 137 with n.) was
among the dead Athenian political leaders resurrected in Demoi, and Bradeen
1963. 192 in his observation that 546/5 BCE may have been the date of the
Battle of Pallene, which allowed Peisistratus to seize control of Athens for the
third time (Hdt. 1.62-4; see in general Lavelle 2005. 134-54), maintained not
only that Phormio must have been mentioned in connection with Peisistratus
but also that the reference to Phormio (sc. rather than another archon) showed
that Peisistratus’ victory at Pallene belonged to his year. But this is circular
argumentation, for we have no idea of the context in which Phormio was
mentioned or indeed if other archons were named in the play; and if Phormio
was associated with anyone in Demoi, the scholion suggests, it was with Solon
rather than Peisistratus.
Solon (for whom, see the general introduction to Demoi) was eponymous
archon for 594/3 BCE, and Philostr. VS 1.16.2 identifies the man who succeeded
him in office as Dropides II (PA 4573 + 4574; PAA 375780), a member of Critias’
family and thus an ancestor of the philosopher Plato (see Davies 1971. 322-6,
esp. 324). Either Philostratus or the scholar whose work is excerpted in the
scholion must therefore be confused; or perhaps Eupolis merely put Phormio
vaguely “after Solon” and his remark was quoted uncritically. There is in any
case no reason to doubt that the coordination of the two men goes back to
Eupolis rather than having been introduced by later scholars (cf. Bradeen 1963.
192; pace Cadoux 1948. 99 n. 142).

fr. 139 K.-A. (127 K. = Demoi fr. 42 Telo)
ZBCV*Q Luc. Alex. 4 (p. 181.12-16 Rabe)
ό Φρυνώνδας έπί πονηριά βοάταιΒίνΦΩ Εύπόλιδι έν Αστρατεύτοις (fr. 45), Δήμοις,
Άριστοφάνει δε Προάγωνι (fr. 484), Άμφιαράω (fr. 26), Θεσμοφοριαζούσαις (861)ΒΦΩ
Phrynondas is celebrated for wickednessBCWn by Eupolis in Astrateutoi (fr. 45),
Demoi, and by Aristophanes in Proagön (fr. 484), Amphiaraos (fr. 26), Thesmophoriazusae
(861)βφω
Discussion Telo 2007. 627
See fr. 45 n.

287

The inscription itself dates to ca. 425 BCE.