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Δεινίας Θεομνήστου Ἀθμονεὺς The father's name is very likely to be right, as Deinias had a son named Theomnestus (Or. 59 §§ 2 and 16) and the grandson very often bore the same name as the grandfather (note on Or. 39 § 27). But of the numerous persons named Deinias or Theomnestus, not one is described in any inscription as Ἀθμονεὺς, and the ascription of the witness to the deme in question is perhaps due to the invention of the composer of the document.

It is clear that Deinias, on being called, refused to swear to the deposition read aloud to him, οὐδὲ τἀληθῆ μαρτυρεῖν ἐθέλει. The deposition ought therefore to be followed by the word ἐξωμοσία as in § 60. (A. Westermann, u. s. pp. 109—111.) Cf. Or. 49 § 20.

Apollodorus, be it observed, assumes that the reason why Deinias refuses to swear to the deposition is that it would be to the detriment of his kinsman Stephanus; but the disclaimer may really have been due to Deinias being aware that the evidence was false. As the document before us is untrustworthy, we cannot tell what the proposed evidence really was,—possibly something referring to Pasion's will (as suggested by Westermann u. s.) or rather something to the detriment of Stephanus' character, e.g. his bad behaviour to Apollodorus and his family, or his receiving bribes from Phormion to give false evidence against the plaintiff. (Lortzing, Apoll. p. 80.)

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Demosthenes, Against Boeotus 1, 27
    • Demosthenes, Against Timotheus, 20
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