Timarchus
2. An Athenian politician, the son of Arizelus, a contemporary of Demosthenes and Aeschines.
He was an active orator, and took a conspicuous part in public affairs, being the author of a considerable number of decrees. One of these forbade the exportation of arms or marine stores for the service of Philip of Macedon, under pain of death. Timarchus was, however, a man of the most profligate and abandoned habits.
He joined Demosthenes in impeaching Aeschines, on the score of malversation in the embassy to Philip. Aeschines, however, anticipated him, and brought him to trial under a law of Solon, by which any one who had been guilty of such flagrant excesses as Timarchus, was forbidden to appear before the public assembly.
There are different accounts as to the result of this trial.
According to some, Timarchus was condemned and disfranchised; according to others, he put an end to his life even before the trial was terminated. (Plut.
Vit. X. Orat. Aesch. ; Prooem.
ad Aesch. adv. Tim.) Timarchus had previously been impeached by Aristogeiton, and prevented from being entrusted with a public commission. (Suidas s.v. Harpocr.
s. v. Αὐτοκλείδης and
Θέρσανδρος; Tzetzes,
Chiliad. 6.47, &c.; Aeschines
Κατὰ Τιμάρχου with Taylor's preface.)
