Python of Aenus

Python of Aenus (/ˈpaɪθɒn, ən/; Greek: Πύθων Αἴνιος; fl. 4th-century BC) was a Greek philosopher and a former student of Plato.¹ Around 360 BC, he and his brother Heraclides assassinated Cotys I, the ruler of Thrace.²

Based on Demosthenes's Against Aristocrates, Python of Aenus was identified as Python of Byzantium, a Greek statesman. However, it is highly unlikely that both names are attributed to the same person.³

References

Diogenes Laërtius, iii. 46.
Aristotle, Politics, v. 10, 1311b20-2; Plutarch, Adv. Col. 1126c.
Natoli, Anthony Francis. The Letter of Speusippus to Philip II: Introduction, Text, Translation and Commentary; with an Appendix on the Thirty-first Socratic Letter Attributed to Plato. Franz Steiner Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-515-08396-0, p. 54. [Footnote] "On the basis of Demosthenes Against Aristocrates 127; 119, Python of Byzantium has been identified with Python of Aenus, the slayer of the Odrysian king Cotys I, but this is highly unlikely."

[1] Diogenes Laërtius, iii. 46.

[2] Aristotle, Politics, v. 10, 1311b20-2; Plutarch, Adv. Col. 1126c.

[3] Natoli, Anthony Francis. The Letter of Speusippus to Philip II: Introduction, Text, Translation and Commentary; with an Appendix on the Thirty-first Socratic Letter Attributed to Plato. Franz Steiner Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-515-08396-0, p. 54. [Footnote] "On the basis of Demosthenes Against Aristocrates 127; 119, Python of Byzantium has been identified with Python of Aenus, the slayer of the Odrysian king Cotys I, but this is highly unlikely."

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