Theramenes (redirected from Tharamenes)

Theramenes (thərăm`ənēz), c.455–404? B.C., Athenian statesman. He helped to establish (411 B.C.) the oligarchical Four Hundred but was later active in overthrowing them. He fought in the Peloponnesian War, notably in the battle of Cyzicus (now in Turkey) and in the capture of Byzantium. Sent (404) to negotiate peace with Sparta, he was accused of treachery because of his deliberate waste of three months in discussion while Athens was under siege. He was elected one of the Thirty Tyrants. Critias denounced him and caused him to be put to death.

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Theramenes

(died 404/403 BC, Athens) Athenian politician. In 411 he helped install the Council of the Four Hundred. Sent to quell an insurrection at Piraeus, he instead led the mutineers in deposing the Council. In 410 he helped Alcibiades defeat the Peloponnesian navy at Cyzicus (see Peloponnesian War). Under Alcibiades he taxed shipping from the Black Sea, helping the economy of Athens to recover and helping restore full constitutional government. During the siege of Athens (405/404) he was sent to deal with Lysander and negotiated terms of capitulation as Athens underwent three months of starvation. A leader of the Thirty Tyrants installed by Lysander, he fell out with Critias and was forced to drink hemlock.

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Theramenes

shilly-shallying oligarch; nicknamed Cothurnus, i.e., ambipedal boot. [Gk. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 960]

See : Indecision

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Theramenes

Born circa 455 B.C.; died 404 B.C. Athenian political figure.

In 411 B.C., Theramenes helped organize the coup that led to the establishment of the oligarchic regime of the Four Hundred. Representing the moderates, he subsequently led the overthrow of the Four Hundred and helped engineer the transfer of power to the Five Thousand, a popular assembly comprising those Athenians who met a property qualification. After the restoration of the democracy in 410, Theramenes remained an influential figure in the government. He was elected to the oligarchic body known as the Thirty Tyrants after Athens’ defeat in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 B.C.). Theramenes was executed for his criticism of the bloody regime of Critias.