Moerocles (Ancient Greek:Μοιροκλῆς; lived 4th century BC) was anAthenianorator, native ofSalamis. He was a contemporary ofDemosthenes, and like him an opponent of the kingsPhilip andAlexander, and was one of the anti-Macedonian orators whom Alexander demanded to have given up to him after the destruction ofThebes, though he subsequently withdrew his demand on the mediation ofDemades (335 BC).[1] We find mention of him as the advocate of Theocrines, and in the oration against Theocrines, which was once placed among those ofDemosthenes,[2] he is spoken of as the author of a decree in accordance with which the Athenians and their allies joined their forces for the suppression ofpiracy. On one occasion he was prosecuted byEubulus for an act of extortion practised upon those who rented the silver mines[3], andTimocles, thecomic poet[4] speaks of him as having received bribes fromHarpalus. At one period of his life he had been imprisoned, though we do not know on what charge. He was afterwards the accuser of the sons ofLycurgus, according to a letter ascribed to Demosthenes, but whose authenticity is debated.[5] According to the Pseudo-Plutarch, however, it wasMenesaechmus on whose charge they were imprisoned.[6] Moerocles is mentioned byAristotle.[7]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.{{cite encyclopedia}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)