Python of Byzantium ( el, Πύθων ὁ Βυζάντιος) was an

ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

statesman and former student of

Isocrates Isocrates (; grc, Ἰσοκράτης ; 436–338 BC) was an ancient Greek rhetorician, one of the ten Attic orators. Among the most influential Greek rhetoricians of his time, Isocrates made many contributions to rhetoric and education throu ...

. In 346 BC, he appears to have participated in negotiations at

Pella Pella ( el, Πέλλα) is an ancient city located in Central Macedonia, Greece. It is best-known for serving as the capital city of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, and was the birthplace of Alexander the Great. On site of the ancient cit ...

that resulted in the

Peace of Philocrates Peace of Philocrates is the name given to the peace treaty concluded in 346 BC between Athens and Macedon under Philip II. Philocrates was the name of the main Athenian negotiator of the Treaty. Background Athens and Macedon had been at war si ...

. In 343 BC, Python represented

Philip II of Macedon Philip II of Macedon ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 382 – 21 October 336 BC) was the king ('' basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

with an offer to alter the overall treaty. Hegesippus remarked that Python oratorically adhered to the instructions of his teachers in Athens (implying that Isocrates was a supporter of Macedon since he retained some influence over Python). Based on

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; el, Δημοσθένης, translit=Dēmosthénēs; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prow ...

's ''Against Aristocrates'', Python of Byzantium was identified with

Python of Aenus Python of Aenus (; el, Πύθων Αἴνιος; fl. 4th-century BCE) was a Greek philosopher and a former student of Plato. Around 360 BC, he and his brother Heraclides assassinated Cotys I, the ruler of Thrace. Based on Demosthenes Demos ...

the latter of which killed King Cotys I of the

Odrysian Kingdom The Odrysian Kingdom (; Ancient Greek: ) was a state grouping many Thracian tribes united by the Odrysae, which arose in the early 5th century BC and existed at least until the late 1st century BC. It consisted mainly of present-day Bulgaria and ...

. However, it is highly unlikely that both names are attributed to one individual.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, , p. 54. ootnote"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."

References

Ancient Greek rhetoricians 4th-century BC Ancient Greek statesmen Ancient Byzantines 4th-century BC Greek people Courtiers of Philip II of Macedon Ambassadors of Macedonia (ancient kingdom) {{AncientGreece-writer-stub