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The treason of the Samian

In this page we have a passage from the Wasps of Aristophanes, where the comedian refers to the treason of a man who denounced the plot in Samos. The scholiast to the passage writes that the man who revealed the contrivance was a certain Karystion, but we don't know if he is the same man referred to by Aristophanes and when exactly the event is to be put in the Samian war. For private Samians who went to Athens at the beginning of the war because they were interested in making innovations in the Samian government, see Thuc. 1.115.2.
On Aristophanes' passage and the comment of the scholiast see A.J. Podlecki, Perikles and His Circle, London - New York 1998, p. 119.

 

Greek text (→ English translation)

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Aristophanes, Vespae 281-284
(ed. Hall-Geldart pdf_icon)

τάχα δ᾽ ἂν διὰ τὸν χθιζινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ὃς ἡμᾶς διεδύετ᾽
ἐξαπατῶν καὶ λέγων
ὡς φιλαθήναιος ἦν καὶ
τἀν Σάμῳ πρῶτος κατείποι,
διὰ τοῦτ᾽ ὀδυνηθεὶς
εἶτ᾽ ἴσως κεῖται πυρέττων.

Scholia in Aristophanis Vespas 283
(from Hill pdf_icon)


Τὰ 'ν Σάμῳ: [τὰ περὶ Σάμον ἐννεακαιδεκάτῳ ἔτει πρότερον ἐπὶ Τιμοκλέους γέγονε]. Μιλησίων γάρ ποτε καὶ Σαμίων μαχομένων Ἀθηναῖοι παρακληθέντες ὑπὸ Μιλησίων εἰς συμμαχίαν ἐπεστράτευσαν κατὰ τῶν Σαμίων, Περικλέους ἡγουμένου τοῦ Ξανθίππου. κακῶς δὲ διατεθέντες Σάμιοι ἐπεχείρησαν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Περσῶν ἀπελθεῖν. καὶ δὴ τοῦτο μαθόντες Ἀθηναῖοι τριήρεις πολεμικὰς κατ' αὐτῶν κατεσκεύασαν, Περικλέους εἰσηγησαμένου αὐτῶν. τοῦτο δὲ μαθόντες Σάμιοι μηχανήν τινα κατεσκεύασαν κατ' αὐτῶν, ἣν μαθόντες Ἀθηναῖοι ὑπό τινος Καρυστίωνος ἐφυλάξαντο, καὶ Σαμίους μὲν κακῶς διέθηκαν, τὸν δὲ Καρυστίωνα ἐτίμησαν σφόδρα μετὰ τοῦ γένους καὶ τῆς αὐτῶν πολιτείας ἠξίωσαν. ὡς οὖν τινος ἐξαπατήσαντος καὶ εἰπόντος ἑαυτὸν εἶναι τὸν μηνύτην τοῦ σκαιουργήματος τῶν Σαμίων, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἀπολυθέντος, φησὶν ὠδυνῆσθαι τὸν Φιλοκλέωνα, ὡς ταῖς καταδίκαις μᾶλλον χαίροντα.
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English translation (→ Greek text)

 

Aristophanes, Vespae 281-284
(trans. O'Neill)

But I be-think me, an accused man escaped us yesterday through his false pretence that he loved Athens and had been the first to unfold the Samian plot. Perhaps his acquittal has so distressed Philocleon that he is abed with fever.

Scholia in Aristophanis Vespas 283