Against Androtion

[1] The case was brought in 355/4 by Diodoros and Euktemon, and concerned Androtion's proposal that the council of that year be awarded a crown for their services.

Demosthenes, as well as Euctemon who initially brought up the charges, believes this to be illegal and that Androtion, as a skilled rhetorician, will maliciously attempt to trick and mislead the people.

He believes Androtion will try to say that because the Assembly proposed the reward, and the people voted to pass it, there was no need for a preliminary decree.

The law is also written in a way beneficial to the people, that even if the Council had been satisfactory in all their other efforts, but had not built the triremes, they still can't be granted the reward.

This is further shocking to Demosthenes, who sees the situation as Androtion trying to reward the Council with a crown for a disaster of a business deal, rather than success.

The Council is fully responsible, according to Demosthenes, as they also appointed this treasurer themselves, rather than the people, who later stole the money without building the ships.

He explains how Solon masterfully crafted the laws of Athens, and that it gives the people fair ways to go about rooting out crime and getting what they believe they deserve.

He then uses a counter argument to try to convince the jury that convicting Androtion alone would set a precedent of the Council following the law and doing everything as it was meant to be done.

If the jury convicts Androtion, they will be doing their duty and the will of the people will be upheld and the Council will have no other option than to defend its citizens first and foremost.

Further describing Androtion's misdealings not only as tax collector, but further attacking his reputation, he has laid another charge on top of illegally proposing the Council a reward, prostitution, and bullying his way into Euctemon's position: being corrupt.