Agnonides

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Agnonides (Gr. Ἀγνωνίδης, fl. 4th century BC) was an ancient Athenian demagogue and sycophant, a contemporary of Theophrastus and Phocion.^[1] The former was accused by Agnonides of impiety, but was acquitted by the Areopagus, and Theophrastus might have ruined his accuser had he been less generous.^[2] Agnonides was opposed to the Macedonian party at Athens, and called Phocion a traitor, for which he was exiled, as soon as Alexander, son of Polysperchon, obtained possession of Athens. Afterwards, however, he obtained from Antipater permission to return to his country through the mediation of Phocion.^[3] But the sycophant soon forgot what he owed to his benefactor, and not only continued to oppose the Macedonian party in the most vehement manner, but even induced the Athenians to sentence Phocion to death as a traitor, who had delivered the Piraeus into the hands of Nicanor.^[4][5] After he was executed, the Athenians came to regret their conduct towards Phocion, and put Agnonides to death to appease his manes.^[6]

Agnonides was at times considered to have been the same person as the rhetorician named Agnon, but this identification is debated.

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