Il. Arnaoutoglou, The trial of Phokion, Athens 318 BC
In spring 318 BC Athens had experienced the last in a series of notorious political trials, that of Phokion, general for several years and leader of the pro-Macedonian faction in the city. Although there are many historical and historiographical accounts of the whole episode, light on the legal side of the case is rarely thrown. It is exactly this side of the story I explore, attempting to answer two questions: i) what was the charge against Phokion and ii) which procedure was followed. As for the charge, while most scholars agree that it was treason, I think there are good reasons to believe this was a case of combined charges, treason and abolition of the constitution. As for the procedure, the fact that Phokion was a magistrate at the time of the prosecution led to the submission of an eisangelia in the assembly, a procedure out of use since the middle of the 4th century BC
