Between Tyranny and Democracy: Political Exiles and the History of Heraclea Pontica

In the surviving fragments of his treatise On Heraclea the historian Memnon assigns a central role to the exiles from Heraclea. As opponents of tyranny, they represented a destabilising element, a constant danger to the survival of the Clearchid regime. This article explores the events that led to the banishment of the exiles, reconstructs the politics of expulsion implemented by the tyrants, and clarifies the status of the exiles and their political orientation in the light of Memnon’s frequent juxtaposition of the exiles’ demand to return to their homeland and the restoration of democracy

Le relazioni internazionali degli esuli politici durante l’egemonia spartana: l’esempio degli esuli rodii

The aim of this paper is to consider the ways in which political exiles acted in their relations with other states during the first phase of Spartan hegemony and up to the stipulation of the Peace of Antalcidas. It analyses as a case study the actions of those Rhodians who became exiles during the revolts that shook the island in the first decade of the 4th century BC. After a brief introduction, the paper focuses on the contexts that led to the proliferation of exiles in the period under consideration dwelling on the special relationship of mutual support between the Spartan king Agesilaus and the exiles. Then it analyses the case of the Rhodian exiles as an example of the general activism of the political exiles. They presented themselves as groups opposed to the governments in power or to precise policies that these governments supported and resorted to the traditional means of political struggle. By so doing, they broadened the area of political action outside the polis, politicising their exile with strategies that recall, at least embryonically, forms of modern political transnationalism

Ephesis against Eubulides (Dem. 57): Legal Arguments against the Sykophant’s Game

This paper analyses Euxitheus’ legal arguments in the trial against Eubulides (Dem. 57) and proposes a new analysis of the ephesis procedure. Within this framework it argues that Euxitheus’ forensic strategy is not only relevant to the question at issue – to prove his status as a legitimate citizen (gnesios polites), as someone born from two citizen parents – but is also characterised by a strict adherence to the laws and procedure involving his case. The relation between rhetoric and law emerging in Euxitheus’ speech reveals a rhetorical strategy grounded on legal evidence and documents. This essay will especially focus on two important arguments in the speech, that is, the use of religious arguments and the theme of the plot against Euxitheus, which prove extremely enlightening in showing the how the relevant procedure shaped Euxitheus’ arguments. To this aim section II compares Dem. 57and other probable cases of ephesis in order to reassess how the ephesis procedure worked when it arose from a diapsephisis. Section III shows that the arguments used by Euxitheus are to be considered relevant to winning an ephesis case in court.The entire speech is effectively constructed to demonstrate ‘what is true’ against Eubulides’ ‘false accusations’ and ‘defamatory statements’ (57.1), that is, to use legal arguments against ‘the sykophant’s game’: to allege everything but prove nothing’.This paper analyses Euxitheus’ legal arguments in the trial against Eubulides (Dem. 57) and proposes a new analysis of the ephesis procedure. Within this framework it argues that Euxitheus’ forensic strategy is not only relevant to the question at issue – to prove his status as a legitimate citizen (gnesios polites), as someone born from two citizen parents – but is also characterised by a strict adherence to the laws and procedure involving his case. The relation between rhetoric and law emerging in Euxitheus’ speech reveals a rhetorical strategy grounded on legal evidence and documents. This essay will especially focus on two important arguments in the speech, that is, the use of religious arguments and the theme of the plot against Euxitheus, which prove extremely enlightening in showing the how the relevant procedure shaped Euxitheus’ arguments. To this aim section II compares Dem. 57and other probable cases of ephesis in order to reassess how the ephesis procedure worked when it arose from a diapsephisis. Section III shows that the arguments used by Euxitheus are to be considered relevant to winning an ephesis case in court.The entire speech is effectively constructed to demonstrate ‘what is true’ against Eubulides’ ‘false accusations’ and ‘defamatory statements’ (57.1), that is, to use legal arguments against ‘the sykophant’s game’: to allege everything but prove nothing’.This paper analyses Euxitheus’ legal arguments in the trial against Eubulides (Dem. 57) and proposes a new analysis of the ephesis procedure. Within this framework it argues that Euxitheus’ forensic strategy is not only relevant to the question at issue – to prove his status as a legitimate citizen (gnesios polites), as someone born from two citizen parents – but is also characterised by a strict adherence to the laws and procedure involving his case. The relation between rhetoric and law emerging in Euxitheus’ speech reveals a rhetorical strategy grounded on legal evidence and documents. This essay will especially focus on two important arguments in the speech, that is, the use of religious arguments and the theme of the plot against Euxitheus, which prove extremely enlightening in showing the how the relevant procedure shaped Euxitheus’ arguments. To this aim section II compares Dem. 57and other probable cases of ephesis in order to reassess how the ephesis procedure worked when it arose from a diapsephisis. Section III shows that the arguments used by Euxitheus are to be considered relevant to winning an ephesis case in court.The entire speech is effectively constructed to demonstrate ‘what is true’ against Eubulides’ ‘false accusations’ and ‘defamatory statements’ (57.1), that is, to use legal arguments against ‘the sykophant’s game’: to allege everything but prove nothing’

Eschine e il progetto di Solone sull’educazione dei giovani: l’interpretazione delle leggi soloniane nell’orazione Contro Timarco

This article analyses the role of Solon’s laws in the discourse Against Timarchus with particular reference to the educational project that the speaker attrib- utes to this ancient legislator. After explaining the historical and juridical context of the trial (§ 1), firstly, I describe what laws the speaker calls into question (§2); then, I dis- cuss the issue of the reliability of the attribution of these laws to Solon (§ 3); finally, I present some considerations on Aeschines’ rhetorical strategy and I argue that not only his laws, but also his poems, his role as political speaker and the very character of Solon form an integral part of this strategy (§ 4)

Voluntary Exile and Eisangelia in Athens: Remarks about the Lawfulness of a Widespread Practice

This paper aims to investigate the question of the (un)lawfulness of voluntary exile by defendants in relation to eisangelia trials. I argue that the defendant’s habit of evading trial by going into exile was never seen as lawful, despite the frequency with which it occurred. First, I examine the issue of alternating between the death penalty and exile in eisangelia trials with the aim of showing that exile was not a penalty linked to the procedure of impeachment. Then, I argue that Athenian law took into consideration the issue of the (un)lawfulness of self-exile, as demonstrated by the existence of an Athenian law concerning the same matter in homicide cases. Lastly, I analyse some ancient passages that allow us to state that defendants in high treason trials who evaded justice were likened to outlaws. Elements such as the practice of setting bounties on those who escaped trial, extradition requests for fugitives, the imposition of additional penalties such as confiscation of property and inscribing the fugitive’s name on a bronze stele, can corroborate this assumption.Questo articolo si propone di indagare la questione della (il)legittimità dell'esilio volontario da parte degli imputati nei processi per eisangelia. Si sostiene che l'abitudine dell'imputato di sottrarsi al processo con l’esilio non fu mai considerata legittima, nonostante la frequenza con cui si fece ricorso a tale condotta. In primo luogo, si esamina la questione dell'alternanza tra la pena di morte e l'esilio nei processi per alto tradimento, con l'obiettivo di dimostrare che l'esilio non fu una pena legata alla procedura di eisangelia. In secondo luogo, si sostiene che il diritto attico prese in considerazione la questione della (il)legittimità dell'auto-esilio, come dimostra l'esistenza di una legge ateniese che regolava la stessa materia nei casi di omicidio. Infine, si analizzano alcune testimonianze che permettono di affermare che gli imputati in processi per alto tradimento che si sottraevano alla giustizia furono assimilati a dei fuorilegge. Elementi come la pratica di fissare delle taglie su chi si sottraeva al processo, le richieste di estradizione per i fuggitivi, l'imposizione di ulteriori sanzioni come la confisca dei beni e l'iscrizione del nome del fuggitivo su una stele bronzea, corroborano questa ipotesi

La legge ateniese sull’interdizione degli stranieri dal mercato: da Solone ad Aristofonte di Azenia

The article analyses a passage of an oration by Demosthenes (57.32) in which two laws are mentioned-the first ascribed to the legislator Solon, and the second to the Athenian politician Aristophon of Azenia- A bout whose contents critics are divided. While the context of the law within the argumentations of the actor Eussiteos enables us to identify the content of the two laws, an analysis of Solon's and Aristophon's legislative work makes it possible to clarify the relationship that existed between the issuing of Solon's ordinance and its resumption promoted by Aristophon. The study of the law in the framework of the reforms attributed to Solon provides evidence in defense of its historicity and the correctness of its attribution to Solon

Evaluation of “Caterina assay”: An Alternative Tool to the Commercialized Kits Used for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Identification

Abstract: Here we describe the first molecular test developed in the early stage of the pandemic to diagnose the first cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Sardinian patients in February–March 2020, when diagnostic certified methodology had not yet been adopted by clinical microbiology laboratories. The “Caterina assay” is a SYBR®Green real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), designed to detect the nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N) gene that exhibits high discriminative variation RNA sequence among bat and human coronaviruses. The molecular method was applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs collected from 2110 suspected cases. The study article describes the first molecular test developed in the early stage of the declared pandemic to identify the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Sardinian patients in February–March 2020, when a diagnostic certified methodology had not yet been adopted by clinical microbiology laboratories. The assay presented high specificity and sensitivity (with a detection limit ≥50 viral genomes/µL). No false-positives were detected, as confirmed by the comparison with two certified commercial kits. Although other validated molecular methods are currently in use, the Caterina assay still represents a valid and low-cost detection procedure that could be applied in countries with limited economic resource

The Indirect Impact of COVID-19 on Major Clinical Outcomes of People With Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism: A Cohort Study

BackgroundThe indirect impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on major clinical outcomes of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) or other parkinsonism is unknown. ObjectivesThe study aimed to (1) describe changes in healthcare services during the first epidemic bout in people with PD or parkinsonism; (2) compare the occurrence of hospitalization for any PD-related major clinical outcomes in 2020 with 2019; (3) investigate the factors, including changes in healthcare services, associated with major clinical outcomes and death. MethodsAll healthcare services of the province of Bologna and major clinical outcomes were assessed through a record linkage study (ParkLink Bologna) using clinical data and health databases. Same analyses were performed in a random cohort of controls matched for age, sex, district of residence, and comorbidities with the ParkLink cohort (ratio of 1:10). ResultsA cohort of subjects with PD (759) or other parkinsonism (192) was included together with a cohort of controls (9,226). All indicators of healthcare services dropped at least below 50% during the lockdown period in all cohorts, mostly impacting physiotherapy in people with PD (-93%, 95% CI 88-96%). In 2020, compared to 2019, a three-fold risk of major injuries (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-6.2) and infections (RR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.2), excluding COVID-19, was observed only in people with PD, and neither in people with parkinsonism nor in controls. Decreased physiotherapy was associated with the occurrence of at least one major clinical outcome (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1-9.8) in people with PD. Experiencing at least one major clinical outcome was the strongest risk factor for death (OR 30.4, 95% CI 11.1-83.4) in people with PD. ConclusionsDuring the first COVID-19 epidemic peak, healthcare services were drastically reduced in a province of northern Italy, regardless of the disease condition. However, compared to 2019, in 2020, only people with PD had a higher risk of major clinical outcomes, that were associated with higher mortality. Strategies to maintain physical activity in people with PD should be implemented in possible future health emergencies

Clinical Features and Pathophysiology of Disorders of Arousal in Adults: A Window Into the Sleeping Brain

Introduction: Disorders of Arousal (DoA) are NREM parasomnias that have been typically regarded as self-limited childhood manifestations. It is now clear that DoA can persist in adults, often presenting with distinctive characteristics. So far, few studies have described the clinical course and characteristics of DoA in adulthood, therefore a large part of their semiology is ignored. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations of DoA in an adult population and to provide a pathophysiological interpretation of their features.Methods: We screened our database for all 1,600 adult (≥15 years) patients with sleep-related motor behaviors between 1995 and 2016. We identified 45 patients with typical DoA episodes, of whom a complete history, neurological examination and diagnostic video-polysomnography (VPSG) were available. All patients provided a detailed description of their episodes (with particular regards to semiology, frequency, and association with stressful life events) in different life periods. VPSG recordings were reviewed and DoA episodes were identified and assigned to three different categories according to their complexity.Results: Our population was composed of 45 adult patients ranging between 15 and 76 years. Sleepwalking was reported by 86% of patients, possibly associated with complex interactions with the environment and violent behaviors in 53% of cases; distressing mental contents were reported by 64%. Recall of the episodes was reported in 77% of patients. Non-restorative sleep was reported in 46% of patients. Stress was a potential episode trigger in 80% of patients. VPSG recordings documented 334 DoA episodes. According to our classification of motor patterns, 282 episodes (84%) were Simple Arousal Movements (SAMs), 34 (10%) Rapid Arousal Movements (RAMs) and 18 (5%) Complex Arousal Movements (CAMs).Discussion: Our study confirms that DoA in adulthood present with distinctive characteristics, such as non-restorative sleep, violence and complex, or bizarre behaviors. Alternative classifications of DoA based on motor patterns could be useful to characterize DoA episodes in adults, as different motor patterns often coexist in the same individual and minor episodes are more common but generally underreported by patients. Prospective studies are needed for a definitive characterization of DoA in adulthood throughout the life course