Interpreting the text of Pseudo-Xenophon

Abstract

In the author’s opinion, the main paradox of the Athenaion Politeia (‘The Constitution of the Athenians’) consists in the fact that its author endeavoured to соmbine two opposite positions: those of а critic and apologist of Athenian democracy. Firstly, not only is the structure of the text aimed at making an apology for democracy, but the greatest part of the argument is devoted to justifying the most controversial aspects of democratic rule. Consequently, in spite of its apparently ideological ambiguity, the author’s main ideological trend is quite evident in the Athenaion Politeia. Secondly, this work well matches the context of contemporary sophistic rhetoric and sympotic literature, for in these genres the author was expected to take opposite positions alternately. Thirdly, it is quite possible that аt that period two ideologies could have coexisted in the same mind: old aristocratic values, based upon ethical postulates, and а new democratic ideology, based upon pragmatic principles. In such а situation political thinking and patriotism could naturally lead to victory of the new ideology, as it is attested in the Athenaion Politeia. The author concludes that Pseudo-Xenophon should be regarded as neither a “youngˮ, nor an “oldˮ oligarch, but rather а democrat of aristocratic or oligarchic origin. Refs 47.