The Oath of Demophantos, Revolutionary Mobilization, and the Preservation of Athenian Democracy

by David A. Teegarden

Hesperia, Volume 81, Issue 3
Page(s): 433-465
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.81.3.0433
Year: 2012
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ABSTRACT:

In this article, the author seeks to account for the successful mobilization of the Athenians against the Thirty Tyrants in 404-403 b.c. He argues, first, that the coup of the Four Hundred would have taught Athenian democrats important lessons about mobilizing in defense of the regime; second, that the demos subsequently required all Athenians to swear the oath of Demophantos in order to increase the likelihood that, should the democracy be overthrown again, democrats would be more likely to mobilize in its defense; and third, that the swearing of the oath was in fact responsible, at least in part, for the successful mobilization against the Thirty.