Case Against Athenogenes Essay

The case Against Athenogenes was a dispute over an agreement for the sale of slaves. The individuals involved in the case are Epicrates, a citizen of Athens and Athenogenes, a metic from Egypt. Epicrates was the plantiff, he brought the case against Athenogenes, the defendant. This was a private suit covering the damages caused by Athenogenes in the agreement. A hetaira named Antigone helped complete the agreement between Epicrates and Athenogenes (5). Epicrates had an interest in one slave boy, but this slave had some requests if he is purchased by Epicrates. The requests in regards of the slave are for his father and brother to follow him in the agreement. Despite this Athenogenes was also reluctant too make any deal, but that reluctance disappeared. Athenogenes wrote up an agreement and reviewed it with Epicrates. After the review of the agreement Epicrates signed it. Epicrates had bought three slaves outright for forty minas. Athenogenes ran a perfume shop where the slaves held some debts and Epicrates paid off the debts. The trouble came three months after the sale of the slaves. Creditors approached Epicrates to collect debts owed by one of the slaves whose name is Midas (9). The debt was worth five talents and, Epicrates being a small farmer, he was not able to afford the amount of debt. Epicrates feared he would face disenfranchisement. To do his best to avoid disenfranchisement Epicrates hired Hyperides. Hyperides had created a various amount of arguments for Epicrates persecution of Athenogenes Once Epicrates learned of all the debts owed to creditors on behalf of Midas. …show more content…
The undisclosed debt made Epicrates believe the agreement with Athenogenes is unjust (4), (8). With the unjust agreement Epicrates claims it should be unbinding. After feeling wronged Epicrates found Athenogenes in the agora to have a discussion. It didn't take long to learn about the debts of Midas, so Athenogenes must have known of them. But, Athenogenes denied knowledge of the debts owed to creditors. Which forces Epicrates to believe he had just lied in the agora. This lie adds to the claims of Athenogenes not abiding by the law. Athenogenes also failed to inform Epicrates about Midas epilepsy. The law states failure to disclose physical defects in a sale should allow the return of the slave. Epicrates also accuses Athenogenes to be guilty of conspiracy. The accusation based on the hetaira's involvement in the agreement Epicrates states he was under the influence of the hetaira and tricked him into the agreement. This argument is only used on the validity of a will, but Epicrates believes it can apply to the agreement he made. Epicrates arguments might create help in Athenogenes defense. At the beginning of the speech Athenogenes showed reluctance to make an agreement. The reluctance caused Epicrates to seek the hetaira to help negotiate the agreement. Athenogenes may try to defend conspiracy allegations with Epicrates eagerness to buy the slave. The eagerness of Epicrates is to blame for being under the influence of a woman, not Athenogenes. Epicrates agreed and bought the slaves outright from Athenogenes. The sale made outright makes the buyer responsible for debts included in the sale. Making Epicrates responsible of Midas debt even if Athenogenes failed to disclose them. The agreement was binding holding both of them to the terms agreed upon including the undisclosed debts. Athenogenes may not have been reluctant to make the