1
Apollodoros, son of
Pasion
KIRSTY M. W. SHIPTON
Apollodoros (ca. 394–post-late 340s BCE) was
the elder son of the banker Pasion and author
of six speeches preserved in the Demosthenic
corpus ([Dem.] 46, 49, 50, 52, 53, and 59).
They give a vivid picture of a wealthy
first-generation Athenian citizen anxious to
distance himself from his servile origins by
gaining prominence in public life.
By his early thirties he had already brought
to trial five leading figures involved in ATHENS’
campaign in the north Aegean. By 350 he was
well known as a regular prosecutor. In 348
he aligned himself to Demosthenes’ policy in
order to resist the rise of PHILIP II OF MACEDON
and proposed a decree inviting the people of
Athens to decide whether any budgetary
surplus should go to the theoric fund (see
THEORIKA, THEORIC FUND) or be used for military
purposes. But “ultimately his political career
failed to match his early ambitions” (Trevett
1992: 155).
Apollodoros performed many public
liturgies. From before 370 down to 352 he
appears five times as trierarch (commander of
a TRIREME) or syntrierarch. He also advanced a
war tax (EISPHORA) on behalf of other wealthy
people in 362 and paid for a victorious chorus
at the DIONYSIA of 352 (see CHOREGIA).
In a speech written for him by Demosthenes,
Apollodoros provides a striking self-portrait.
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,
and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 550–551.
© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah04335
He reveals a man aware of his weaknesses but
nonetheless proud of his achievements: “I do
not possess good looks; I walk quickly; I speak
loudly; [. . .] people find me irritating [. . .] but
I perform all my liturgies as magnificently as
possible [. . .] (as befits) those of us who have
received citizenship as a gift” (Dem. 45.77–78).
Apollodoros was not a professional speech
writer. But he clearly researched the relevant
laws and had some antiquarian interests. His
speeches provide valuable information on
Pasion’s bank, for which he recovered
20 talents of debt, often through litigation.
They also reveal, through his bitter quarrel
with the trierarch Polykles, how heavily the
costs of naval warfare impacted upon the
wealthy Athenian elite.
Around 365 Apollodoros married the
daughter of Deinias of Athmonon, who came
from a prosperous family. They had two
daughters.
SEE ALSO: Aegean Sea (Classical and later);
Banks; Democracy, Athenian; Demosthenes,
orator; Liturgy, Greece and Rome; Orators,
Attic; Pasion, Athenian banker.
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS
Cohen, E. E. (1992) Athenian economy and society:
a banking perspective. Princeton.
Davies, J. K. (1971) Athenian propertied families:
600–300 BC: 437–42 (no. 11672, X–XII). Oxford.
Trevett, J. (1992) Apollodoros the son of Pasion.
Oxford.