The life of Andokides has, in one broad aspect, a striking analogy to the life of Antiphon. Each man stands forth for a moment a conspicuous actor in one great scene, while the rest of his history is but dimly known; and each, at that moment, appears as an oligarch exposed to the suspicion and dislike of the democracy. The Revolution of the Four Hundred is the decisive and final event in the life of Antiphon. The mutilation of the Hermae is the first, but hardly less decisive event, in the known life of Andokides; the event which, for thirteen years afterwards, absolutely determined his fortunes, and which throws its shadow over all that is known of their sequel.

Birth of Andokides

Andokides was born probably about 440 b.c. The deme Kydathene, of which he was a member, was included in the Pandionian tribe. His family was traced by Hellanikos the genealogist through Odysseus up to the god Hermes, and had been known in Athenian history for at least three generations. Leogoras, his great grandfather, had fought against the Peisistratidae. Andokides the elder, his grandfather, was one of ten envoys who negotiated the Thirty Years' Truce with Sparta in 445; and had commanded with Perikles at Samos in 440, and with Glaukon at Corcyra in 435. Leogoras, father of the orator, was, to judge from Aristophanes, famous chiefly for his dinners and his pheasants.