Is the story of Plato's arrest at Aegina plausible?

score:4

Accepted answer

Well, the story does contain an insurmountable logical contradiction: how can anyone be prosecuted according to a law which stipulates "death without a trial"?

However, I think that there is a large kernel of truth in the story, because the events described would have been taking place shortly after the Peloponessian War, in which the pre-existing very sour relations between Athens and Aegina reached new heights:

By the terms of the Thirty Years' Peace (445 BC) Athens promised to restore to Aegina her autonomy, but the clause remained ineffective. During the first winter of the Peloponnesian War (431 BC) Athens expelled the Aeginetans and established a cleruchy in their island. The exiles were settled by Sparta in Thyreatis, on the frontiers of Laconia and Argolis. Even in their new home they were not safe from Athenian rancour. A force commanded by Nicias landed in 424 BC, and killed most of them. At the end of the Peloponnesian War Lysander restored the scattered remnants of the old inhabitants to the island, which was used by the Spartans as a base for operations against Athens during the Corinthian War. Its greatness, however, was at an end. The part which it plays henceforward is insignificant.

So, yes, Aegina would have been a very dangerous place for an Athenian to find himself in.

More post

Search Posts

Related post