ADY´NATI
ADY´NATI (
ἀδύνατοι),
persons supported by the Athenian state, who, on account of infirmity or
bodily defects, were unable to obtain a livelihood. The sum which they
received from the state appears to have varied at different times. In the
time of Lysias (
Or. 24.29) one obolus a day was given; later,
seemingly about the time of Aristotle, it was increased to two oboli. As to
the date of this change authorities differ; compare Harpoc. s. v. with Bekk.
Anecd. p. 345. Another sum, intermediate between the two,
9 drachmas (=54 oboli) per month, is mentioned by Philochorus, ap.
Harpocrat. The bounty was restricted to persons whose property was under
three minae. It was awarded by a decree of the people, but the examination
of the individuals belonged to the senate of the Five Hundred: the payments
were made by prytanies. Peisistratus is said to have been the first to
introduce a law for the maintenance of those persons who had been mutilated
in war; but, according to others, this provision derived its origin from a
law of Solon. (Plut.
Solon. 31; Schol.
Aeschin. p. 738, Reiske; Aeschin. c.
Tim.
§ 103; Harpocrat., Suid.,
Hesych. sub
voce Lysias,
Or. 24,
Pro Inval., a
speech written for an individual in order to prove that he was entitled to
be supported by the state; Böckh,
Public Econ. of
Athens, p. 242 ff.) [
W.S] [
W.W]
(Appendix). The quotation from
Harpocration can now be corrected from the author's own words. No other rate
of payment is mentioned than two obols daily; and a special
ταμίας, chosen by lot, presided over the
distribution (Ath. Pol. 49).
