Python of Aenus

For other uses, see Python.

Python of Aenus (/ˈpaɪθɒn, ən/; Greek: Πύθων Αἴνιος; fl. 4th-century BCE) 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

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."