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Demagogues and Demos in Athens

2016; Brill; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/20512996-12340093

2051-2996

P. J. Rhodes,

Contemporary and Historical Greek Studies

M. I. Finley sought to rescue the ‘demagogue’ as an essential ingredient in Athens’ democratic processes. This paper explores the interactions of politicians and the assembly. There is some evidence for pressure on men to attend and to vote on a particular side. There were many occasional speakers and proposers in addition to the few most active politicans. We should not think of a series of duels; and experienced assembly-goers were not mere ‘spectators of speeches’. Speakers could be supported by cheers or heckled. Nobody could count on the assembly’s voting as he wanted consistently time after time. Politicians sought to cultivate an image, whether the aloof, magisterial image of Pericles or the extravagantly populist image of Cleon. Orators had to master a range of strategies to succeed, but there was not a simple division between élite politicians and a lower-class demos to whose tune they had to dance.