TIMOTHEUS, Athenian statesman and general, son of Conon, the restorer of the walls of Athens. From 378-356 B.C. he fre quently held command in the war between Athens (in alliance with Thebes), and Sparta. In 375 Timotheus was sent with a fleet to sail round Peloponnesus by way of demonstration against Sparta. He gained over Cephallenia, secured the friendship of the Acarnanians and Molossians, and took Corcyra, but used his victory with moderation. In 373 Timotheus was appointed to the command of a fleet for the relief of Corcyra, then beleaguered by the Spartans. But his ships were not fully manned, and to recruit their strength he cruised in the Aegean. For this delay he was brought to trial, but acquitted. Having been superseded in his command he took service with the king of Persia. We next hear of him about 366, when, having returned to Athens, he was sent to support Ariobarzanes, satrap of Phrygia. But, finding that the satrap was in open revolt against Persia, Timotheus, in con formity with his instructions, abstained from helping him and turned his arms against Samos, then occupied by a Persian gar rison, and took it after a ten months' siege (366-65). He then took Sestus, Crithote, Torone, Potidaea, Methone, Pydna and many other cities; but two attempts upon Amphipolis failed. An action was brought against him by Apollodorus, the son of the banker Pasion, for the return of money lent by the father. The
speech for the plaintiff is still extant, and is attributed (though not unanimously) to Demosthenes. In the course of the Social War Timotheus was despatched with Iphicrates, Menestheus, son of Iphicrates, and Chares to put down the revolt. The hostile fleets sighted each other in the Hellespont ; but a gale was blowing, and Iphicrates and Timotheus decided not to engage. Chares, disre garding their opposition, lost many ships, and in his despatches he complained so bitterly of his colleagues that the Athenians put them on their trial. Timotheus, who had always been disliked for his arrogance, was condemned to pay a very heavy fine. Being un able to pay, he withdrew to Chalcis, where he died soon after wards. The Athenians showed their repentance by remitting the greater part of the fine to his son Conon. His remains were buried in the Ceramicus and statues erected to his memory in the agora and the acropolis.