It is plain that these two passages of Dionysius contradict
each other. Rehdantz and Mr. Clinton notice the contradiction,
but treat the passage first cited as containing the truth, and
the other as erroneous. I cannot but think that the passage
last cited is entitled to most credit, and that the true date
of the trial was 357-356 B. C., not 354 B. C. When Dionysius
asserts that the trial took place while the Social War was yet
going on, he adds, “as is evident from the speech itself—ὡς ἐξ
αὐτοῦ γίγνεται τοῦ λόγου καταφανές.” Here therefore there was no
possibility of being misled by erroneous tables; the evidence
is direct and complete; whereas he does not tell us on what
authority he made the other assertion, about the archonship of
Diotimus. Next, it is surely improbable that the abortive combat
in the Hellespont, and the fierce quarrel between Chares and
his colleagues, probably accompanied with great excitement in
the fleet, could have remained without judicial settlement for
three years. Lastly, assuming the statement about the archonship
of Diotimus to be a mistake, we can easily see how the mistake
arose. Dionysius has confounded the year in which Timotheus died,
with the year of his trial. He seems to have died in 354 B. C. I
will add that the text in this passage is not beyond suspicion.
A fine of one hundred talents is said to have been imposed upon
Timotheus, the largest fine (according to Isokrates), ever imposed
at Athens. Upon his condemnation he retired to Chalkis, where he
died three years afterwards, in 354 B. C. In the year succeeding his
death, his memory was still very unpopular; yet it appears that the
fine was remitted to his family, and that his son Konon was allowed
to compromise the demand by a disbursement of the smaller sum of ten
talents for the repairs of the city walls. It seems evident that
Timotheus by his retirement evaded payment of the full fine; so that
his son Konon appears after him as one of the richest citizens in
Athens.[481]
[481] Cornelius Nepos, Timoth. c. 4; Rehdantz, Vit. Iph., Ch. et
Timoth. p. 235; Isokrates, Or. xv. (Permutat.) s. 108, 110. 137.
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