Kleobule, (in Ancient Greek: Κλεόβουλη), born between 408 and 400 BC, was a notable figure in classical Athens. She is known for being the mother of the orator and politician Demosthenes.
Kleobule | |
|---|---|
| Born | 408 BC  |
| Died | 4th century BC |
| Children | Demosthenes |
Biography
editKleobule was born between 408 and 400 BC.[1] She was attacked by Aeschines, who accused her of not being Athenian but a Scythian or a Thracian, although these claims do not appear to be necessarily true.[1][2] Her father Gylon was an Athenian citizen nonetheless,[3] who was branded a "traitor" for his actions during the Peloponnesian War.[4] She married Demosthenes the Elder, and they had several children, including Demosthenes.[5][6] Regardless of her origins, she received a substantial dowry for her marriage, indicating she came from a wealthy background.[6]
Her husband, being older than she was, fell ill; in his will, he entrusted their children to a certain Aphobus, who was likely a relative. Aphobus was also supposed to marry Kleobule in exchange for a dowry of 12,000 drachmas.[5][6][7] However, he neither married Kleobule nor took care of the children, and he squandered all the money left by Demosthenes the Elder for his son; 14 talents supposedly turned into just one.[5][6]
Aphobus eventually left the family home; he was sued by Demosthenes, who succeeded in taking him to court and recovering 10 talents.[5][6] It seems that during this trial, Aphobus insulted Kleobule, but this is not certain.[8] The speech related to this case is called Against Aphobus.[9]
She died at an unknown date. Most of the knowledge about her comes not from Demosthenes' speeches, but from those of some of his adversaries, such as Aeschines, and from later biographical anecdotes about Demosthenes, whose reliability is not always very certain.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b Villacèque, Noémie (14 February 2014). "Ta mère ! Insulte et généalogie à la tribune démocratique" [Your mother ! Insult and genealogy at the democratic platform]. Cahiers « Mondes anciens » (in French) (5). doi:10.4000/mondesanciens.1242.
- ^ "Aeschines, Against Ctesiphon, section 172". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ Edward Cohen, The Athenian Nation, 76.
- ^ E. M. Burke, The Looting of the Estates of the Elder Demosthenes, 63.
- ^ a b c d Demosthenes (2021). Clarke, Stephen (ed.). On the Chersonese: Demosthenes 8. Greek orators. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-1-78962-815-9.[page needed]
- ^ a b c d e Phelan, Kerry Louise (2016). A Social and Historical Commentary on Demosthenes' against Euboulides (Thesis). ProQuest 2175884491.[page needed]
- ^ Demosthenes; MacDowell, Douglas M.; Demosthenes (2004). Demosthenes, speeches 27 – 38. The oratory of classical Greece (1 ed.). Austin: Univ. of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-70254-7.[page needed]
- ^ Perlman, Paula Jean, ed. (2018). Ancient Greek law in the twenty-first century (First ed.). Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-1521-7.[page needed]
- ^ MacDowell, Douglas M. (2004). "Demosthenes". Demosthenes, Speeches 27-38. pp. 19–206. doi:10.7560/702530-005. ISBN 978-0-292-79722-2.
- ^ Gagarin, Michael (2001). "omen's Voices in Attic Oratory". Making Silence Speak. pp. 161–176. doi:10.1515/9780691187594-012. ISBN 978-0-691-18759-4.