Editing Andocides (section)

==Oratory==
As an orator, Andocides does not appear to have been held in very high esteem by the ancients, as he is seldom mentioned, though [[Valerius Theon]] is said to have written a commentary on his orations.<ref>[[Suda]], ''s.v.'' Θέων</ref> We do not hear of his having been trained in any of the sophistical schools of the time, and he had probably developed his talents in the practical school of the popular assembly. Hence his orations have no mannerism in them, and are really, as Plutarch says, simple and free from all rhetorical pomp and ornament.<ref>Comp. Dionys. Hal. ''de Lys.'' 2, ''de Thucyd. Jud.'' 51</ref>

Sometimes, however, his style is diffuse, and becomes tedious and obscure. The best among his orations is that "on the Mysteries"; but, for the history of the time, all are of the highest importance.

Besides the three orations already mentioned, which are undoubtedly genuine, there is a fourth against Alcibiades (κατὰ Ἀλκιβιάδου), said to have been delivered by Andocides during the [[ostracism]] of 415 BC; but it is probably spurious, though it appears to contain genuine historical matter. Some scholars ascribed it to [[Phaeax (orator)|Phaeax]], who took part in the ostracism, according to [[Plutarch]]. But it is more likely that it is a rhetorical exercise from the early fourth century BC, since formal speeches were not delivered during ostracisms and the accusation or defence of Alcibiades was a standing rhetorical theme.<ref>Gribble. 1999. ''Alcibiades and Athens'' ch.2 app.2</ref> Besides these four orations we possess only a few fragments and some very vague allusions to other orations.<ref>Jan Otto Sluiter, ''lectiones Andocideae'' p. 239, &c.</ref>