ANDOCIDES  , one of the " ten "

Attic orators, was born about 440 B.C . Implicated in the mutilation of the Hermae (415), although he saved his life by turning informer, he was condemned to partial loss of civil rights and went into exile . He engaged in commercial pursuits, and after two unsuccessful attempts returned to Athens under the general amnesty that followed the restoration of the democracy (403), and filled some important offices . In 391 he was one of the ambassadors sent to Sparta to discuss peace terms, but the negotiations failed, and after this time we hear no more of him . Oligarchical in his sympathies, he offended his own party and was distrusted by the democrats . Andocides was no professional orator; his style is simple and lively, natural but inartistic . Speeches extant:— De Reditu, plea for his return and removal of civil disabilities; De Mysteriis, defence against the charge of impiety in attending the Eleusinian mysteries; De Pace, advocating peace with Sparta; Contra Alcibiadem, generally considered spurious . Text:—Blass, 188o, Lipsius, 1888; De Myst., with notes by Hickie, 1885; De Red. and De Myst., with notes by Marchant, 1889; see Jebb, Attic Orators; L . L . Forman, Index Andocideus, 1897 .