PRODŎSĬA

( προδοσία ) included not only every species of treason, but also every such crime as (in the opinion of the Greeks) would amount to a betraying or desertion of the interest of a man’s country. The highest sort of treason was the attempt to establish a despotism ( τυραννίς ), or to subvert the constitution ( καταλύειν τὴν πολιτείαν ), and in democracies καταλύειν τὸν δῆμον or τὸ πλῆθος . Other kinds of treason were a secret correspondence with a foreign enemy; a betraying of an important trust, such, as a fleet, army, or fortre , a desertion of post, a disobedience of orders, or any other act of treachery, or breach of duty in the public service. But not only would overt acts of disobedience or treachery amount to the crime of προδοσία , but also the neglect to perform those active duties which the Greeks in general expected of every good citizen. Cowardice in battle ( δειλία ) would be an instance of this kind; so would any breach of the oath taken by the ἔφηβοι at Athens; or any line of conduct for which a charge of disaffection to the people ( μισοδημία ) might be succe fully maintained. The regular punishment appointed by the law for most kinds of treason appears to have been death, which, no doubt, might be mitigated by decree of the people, as in the case of Miltiades and many others. The goods of traitors, who suffered death, were confiscated, and their houses razed to the ground; nor were they permitted to be buried in the country, but had their bodies cast out in some place on the confines of Attica and Megara. Therefore it was that the bones of Them is toc les, who had been condemned for treason, were brought over and buried secretly by his friends. The posterity of a traitor became ἄτιμοι , and those of a tyrant were liable to share the fate of their ancestor.