Callistratus of Aphidnae
Callistratus of Aphidnae (Greek: Καλλιστράτος Kallistratos; died 355 BC) was an Athenian orator and general in the 4th century BCE.
For many years, as prostates, he supported Spartan interests at Athens, recognizing that Thebes posed a greater threat to Athens. In 371 BC he was one of the crafters of the Peace of Callias, which recognized the hegemony of Athens on the sea and that of Sparta on land. On account of the refusal of the Thebans to surrender Oropus, which on his advice they had been allowed to occupy temporarily, Callistratus, despite his magnificent defence (which so impressed Demosthenes that he resolved to study oratory), was condemned to death in 361 BC. He fled to Methone in Macedonia, where he was accommodated by King Perdiccas III who drew on his financial expertise. Later, he founded the city of Krenides or Daton with a group of colonists from Thasos. After the takeover of the area by Philip II of Macedon, he took refuge in Byzantium. Upon his return to Athens in 355 he was executed.
He was an author of several reforms, notably with the Athenian fiscal administration, and forced the allies of Athens to pay contributions (syntaxeis) for taking part in the war effort.
See Xenophon, Hellenica, iii. 3, vi. 2; and Lycurgus, In Leocr. 93.
References
- Pauly-Wissowa, Kallistratos,
- P. Cloché La politique de l'Athénien Callistrate (391-361 avant J.-C.) (The Politics of the Athenian Callistratus (391 - 361 BCE)), XXV 1923, 5 - 3
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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