THERAKENES, th6-r5m'e-nez (Lat., from Gk.enpaµhe,)s) (9-404 u.c.). An Athenian poli tician. In B.C. 411 he was a leading member of the oligarchy of the Four Hundred at Athens, but soon, going over to the opposition, took a leading part in the deposition of that body. In B.C. 410 he took part in the battle of Cyzicus, and in B.C. 408 was present at the siege of Chal eedon and the capture of Byzantium. At the battle of n.c. 406. he was one of the subordinate officers in the Athenian fleet, and after the battle was ordered to return to the spot where the action had taken place and rescue such of the disabled ships and their crews as he could. A severe storm having in tervened, he found it all but impossible to exe cute this order, and as a result a large number of Athenian citizens were drowned. Then, antici pating the wrath of the people, he hastened to Athens and accused the commanders-in-chief of negligence. When, in B.C. 404, Athens was be
sieged by the Lacethemonians, Theramenes was sent to Lysander to arrange a peace, but, after remaining in Lysander's quarters more than three months, until the Athenians were reduced to such a state of suffering that they were ready to submit to any terms, he returned to report that he could accomplish nothing, but that an em bassy must be sent to the Spartan ephors. Being a second time sent forth, this time to Sparta, lie concluded a peace unfavorable to the Atheni ans. lie was chosen one of the Thirty Tyrants who were set up at Athens, but, taking sides against the more violent members of that body, he was accused by Critias of being a traitor and was put to death. Consult P6hlig, Der Athencr Theramenes (Leipzig, 1977).