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Lycon

Λύκων), historical.

1. An orator and demagogue at Athens, was one of the three accusers of Socrates and prepared the case against him. According to Stallbanm, Lycon was one of the ten regular advocates (συνήγοροι) employed by the state to conduct public prosecutions but there seems to be no authority for this statement. When the Athenians repented of their condemnation of Socrates, they put Melitus to death and banished Anytus and Lycon. (Plat. Apol. p. 23e; Stallb. ad loc.; D. L. 2.38, 39, 43; Menag. ad loc.) The Lycon, who is mentioned by Aristophanes (Aristoph. Wasps 1301) as a drunken brawler, has been identified by some with the accuser of Socrates (Stallb. l.c.; Kühner, ad Xen. Mem. 1.1.1); and, if we may believe the scholiast on Plato (Apol. l.c.), the latter was also the same person as the husband of the notoriously profligate Rhodia, satirized by Eupolis. From the same authority we learn that he was an Ionian by descent, belonged to the demus of Thoricus, and was noted for his poverty by C ratinus in the πυτίνη, (Arist. Lysistr. 270; Schol. ad loc.; Schn. Praef. ad Xen. Anab. p. xxxii; Meineke, Fragm. Com. Graec. vol. i. p. 117, ii. pp. 131, 441, 442, 515, 535.)

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