A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀριστοκράτης), an Athenian of wealth and influence (Plat. Gorg. p. 472a.), son of Scellias, attached himself to the oligarchical party, and was a member of the government of the Four Hundred, which, however, he was, together with Theramenes, a main instrument in overthrowing. (Thuc. 8.89, 92; Lys. c. Erat. p. 126 ; Demosth. c. Theocr. p. 1343.) Aristophanes (Aristoph. Birds 126) refers to him with a punning allusion to his name and politics. In 407, when Alcibiades, on his return to Athens, was made commander-in-chief, Aristocrates and Adeimantus were elected generals of the land forces under him. (Xen. Hell. 1.4.21; comp. Diod. 13.69; Nep. Alc. 100.7.) In the same year, Aristocrates was appointed one of the ten commanders who superseded Alcibiades, and he was among the six who were brought to trial and executed after the battle of Arginusae, B. C. 406. (Xen. Hell. 1.5.16, 6.29, 7. §§ 2, 34; Diod. 13.74, 101.)

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