BRIBERY IN CLASSICAL ATHENS Kellam ... - Historia Antigua

Conover Bribery in Classical Athens Introduction
unexpected unfriendliness with Leon, and up against the peerless reputation of Pelopidas,
Athens increasingly seemed to be fighting a losing battle at Susa. The city’s hopes were
finally dashed when Timagoras supported Pelopidas’ counsel to the King, in effect
defending Thebes’ interests, not Athens’, and leaving only Leon to protest the final, pro-
Theban terms of the alliance. 2
Even so, Timagoras surely emerged from Susa in good spirits. Given Thebes’
recent ascendancy, it was unclear whether Athens would have any real bargaining power
with the King, so the pro-Theban terms of the alliance were not unexpected. And, in any
case, Timagoras’ embassy had secured at least the chance for further negotiation, for the
King had explicitly invited the Athenians to send another embassy if they found the terms
of the treaty unfair. Personally, too, the Athenian fared quite well at the Congress, for the
King had held him in esteem second only to the Theban Pelopidas. At his departure he
consequently received substantial parting gifts (dōra) from the King. All told, he
returned to Athens with a number of aids for his ailment: among other dōra, an
amazingly expensive couch made with luxurious bedding so intricate that slaves were
provided solely to make it (because Greeks did not know how); 80 cows with 80
cowherds to tend them so that he could have cow’s milk for his illness; and even a litter
to ride on from Susa, together with four talents’ pay for the carriers. 3 Of course, the rest
2 Timagoras’ ailment: Plut. Pelop. 30.6, Art. 22.4-6. Plutarch’s biographies of Pelopidas and Artaxerxes
are the only sources referring to Timagoras’ ailment, and both depict the King’s gifts to Timagoras as relief
for his illness. Although it is entirely possible that the narrative of an illness was a later rationalization
added to the story, it is difficult to understand when or why this element would have been added; one
possibility, however, is that, in order to defend himself against Leon’s accusations and suspicions about the
King’s gifts, Timagoras himself later claimed that he was sick. Problems during the embassy: Xen. Hell.
7.1.35-38.
3 Plut. Pelop. 30.6, Art. 22.5. Future negotiations: Xen. Hell. 7.1.37 with Heskel (1991: 107-8).
According to Demosthenes, the King gave Timagoras the colossal sum of 40 talents, but this figure is more
likely an exaggeration by the orator himself or by others (cf. w(j le/getai, Dem. 19.137), a total reached by
multiplying by ten the misthos given Timagoras in Plutarch’s account (Pelop. 30.6).
2