AUTOMOL´IAS GRAPHE´
AUTOMOL´IAS GRAPHE´ (
αὐτομολίας γραφή), the accusation of persons charged with
having deserted and gone over to the enemy (Pollux, 6.151). There are no
speeches extant upon this subject; it seems clear, however, that the
punishment was death (Ulpian, on Demosth.
de F. L. p.
380.126; Petitus,
Leg. Att. p. 674). Meier makes it a
military offence tried by a jury of soldiers under the presidency of the
generals (
Att. Proc. p. 365), like those enumerated under ASTRATEIAS GRAPHÉ; but this is probably
true only of those inscribed on the
κατάλογος, or list for service. Persons who left the city in
times of danger without any intention of going over to the enemy were tried
by the Areiopagus as traitors (Lycurg.
c. Leocr., §
52); and that civilians guilty of actual
αὐτομολία were brought before the same court is more likely
than that they could be indicted before a military tribunal.
Actors, whose exemption from military service has been noticed under ATELEIA,
habitually enjoyed a free pass in time of war, and thus were found useful
when it was desired to open indirect negotiations;
e.g., Aristodemus was so employed between Philip and the Athenians,
B.C. 347 (
Argum. ad Dem.
F. L.
p. 335
init.; Grote, ch. lxxxix.). To check the
desertion of slaves in war-time, their master's power of punishing them was
restricted (
Aristoph. Cl. 6,
7).
[
J.S.M] [
W.W]
