Demetrius of Phalerum (alsoDemetrius of Phaleron orDemetrius Phalereus;Ancient Greek:Δημήτριος ὁ Φαληρεύς; c. 350 – c. 280 BC[1]) was anAthenian orator originally fromPhalerum, an ancient port ofAthens. A student ofTheophrastus, and perhaps ofAristotle, he was one of the first members of thePeripatetic school of philosophy. Demetrius had been a distinguished statesman who was appointed byCassander, the King of Macedon, to governAthens, where Demetrius ruled as sole ruler for ten years. During this time, he introduced important reforms of thelegal system, while also maintaining pro-Cassanderoligarchic rule.
Demetrius was exiled by his enemies in 307 BC. He first went toThebes, and then, after 297 BC, went to the court ofAlexandria. He wrote extensively on the subjects ofhistory,rhetoric, andliterary criticism. He is not to be confused with his grandson, also called Demetrius of Phaleron, who probably served as regent of Athens between 262 and 255, on behalf of the Macedonian KingAntigonos Gonatas.[2]
Demetrius was born inPhalerum, c. 350 BC. He was the son of Phanostratus, a man without rank or property, and was brother to the anti-Macedonian oratorHimeraeus.[3] He was educated, together with the poetMenander, in the school ofTheophrastus.[4] He began his public career about 325 BC, at the time of the disputes concerningHarpalus, and soon acquired a great reputation by the talent he displayed in public speaking. He belonged to the pro-oligarchic party ofPhocion, and he acted in the spirit of that statesman. WhenXenocrates was unable to pay the newtax onmetics (foreign residents) c. 322 BC, and the Athenians threatened him with slavery, he was only saved (according to one story) when Demetrius purchased his debt and paid his tax.[5] After the death of Phocion in 317 BC,Cassander placed Demetrius at the head of the administration ofAthens. He filled this office for ten years, instituting extensive legal reforms. The Athenians conferred upon him the most extraordinary distinctions (almost all of which were revoked after his later expulsion from Athens), and no fewer than 360statues were erected to him.[6] However, Demetrius was unpopular with the lower classes of Athenians and with pro-democratic political factions, who resented the limitations he placed on the democratic franchise and viewed him as little more than a pro-Macedonian puppet ruler.[7]
According toStephen V. Tracy, the story about the statues was not historical; also he argues that Demetrius later played a big role in the foundation of theLibrary of Alexandria.[8]
He remained in power until 307 BC when Cassander's enemy,Demetrius Poliorcetes, captured Athens, and Demetrius was obliged to take to flight.[9] It was claimed that during the latter period of his administration he had abandoned himself to every kind of excess,[10] and we are told he squandered 1200 talents a year on dinners, parties, and love affairs.Carystius of Pergamum mentions that he had a lover by the name of Theognis, of whom all the Athenian boys were jealous.[11] After his exile, his enemies contrived to induce the people of Athens to pass thedeath sentence upon him, in consequence of which his friend Menander nearly fell victim. All his statues, with the exception of one, were demolished.
Demetrius first went toThebes,[12] and then (after Cassander's death in 297 BC) to the court ofPtolemy I Soter atAlexandria, with whom he lived for many years on the best terms, and who is even said to have entrusted to him the revision of the laws of his kingdom.[13] During his stay at Alexandria, he devoted himself mainly to literary pursuits, ever cherishing the recollection of his own country.[14]
On the accession ofPtolemy Philadelphus, Demetrius fell into disfavour (he apparently supported the wrong candidate,Ptolemy Keraunos),[15] and was sent into exile toUpper Egypt. According to one account a statue at MemphisSaqqara was attributed to him.[16] He is said to have died fromthe bite of avenomous snake[17] and was buried inDiospolis Kato.[18] His death appears to have taken place soon after the year 283 BC.
Demetrius was the last among the Atticorators worthy of the name,[19] after which the activity went into a decline. His orations were characterised as being soft, graceful, and elegant,[20] rather than sublime like those ofDemosthenes. His numerous writings, the greater part of which he probably composed during his residence inEgypt,[21] embraced a wide range of subjects, and the list of them given byDiogenes Laërtius[22] shows that he was a man of the most extensive acquirements. These works, which were partly historical, partly political, partly philosophical (e.g.Aisopeia, a collection ofAesopic Fables), and partly poetical, have all perished. The workOn Style (Περὶ ἑρμηνείας) which has come down under his name, is the work of a later writer, c. 2nd century AD.
The performance of tragedy had fallen into disuse in Athens, on account of the great expense involved.[23] In order to afford the people less costly and yet intellectual amusement, he caused the Homeric and other poems to be recited on the stage by rhapsodists.[24]
According toStrabo,[25] Demetrius inspired the creation of theMouseion, the location of theLibrary of Alexandria, which was modelled after the arrangement of Aristotle's school. The Mouseion contained aperipatos (covered walkway), asyssition (room for communal dining) and a categorized organization of scrolls.
According to the earliest source of information, thepseudepigraphicLetter of Aristeas composed betweenc. 180 – c. 145 BC,[26] the library was initially organized by Demetrius of Phaleron,[27] under the reign ofPtolemy I Soter (c. 367 – c. 283 BC). Other sources claim it was instead created under the reign of his sonPtolemy II (283–246 BC).[28]
Diogenes Laërtius devotes a section of hisThe Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers to Demetrius Phalereus.[29]
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, in theLectures on the History of Philosophy, says of Demetrius Phalereus that "Demetrius Phalereus and others were thus soon after [Alexander] honoured and worshipped in Athens as God."[30] What the exact source was for Hegel's claim is unclear. Diogenes Laërtius does not mention this.[29]
Apparently, Hegel's error comes from a misreading ofPlutarch'sLife of Demetrius which is aboutDemetrius Poliorcetes and not Demetrius Phalereus.[citation needed][31] But Plutarch describes in the work how Demetrius Poliorcetes conquered Demetrius Phalereus at Athens. Then, in chapter 12 of the work, Plutarch describes how Demetrius Poliorcetes was given honours due to the godDionysus. Somehow this account by Plutarch was confusing not only for Hegel but for others as well.[32]
Laërtius, Diogenes (1925)."The Academics: Xenocrates" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:4. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library. § 6–15. Laërtius, Diogenes (1925b)."The Peripatetics: Demetrius" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:5. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library. § 75–85.Attribution:
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)
Media related toDemetrius Phalereus at Wikimedia Commons