Ninos [a] was an ancient woman executed in Athens at some point in the classical period. Her case is known through mentions in three speeches by Demosthenes; further information about her case is supplied by Dionysius of Halicarnassus and possibly Josephus.
Ninos' case is known through three mentions in speeches by Demosthenes – Against Boeotus I and II, and On the False Embassy . [2] Further information is supplied by two scholia on On the False Embassy, [3] and Dionysius of Halicarnassus in his discussion of the speech Against Menecles which was wrongly attributed to Deinarchus. [4] She may also be mentioned in a passage of Josephus, though this relies on an emendation of the preserved text and is not certain. [5] [3]
A scholion on a speech by Demosthenes describes Ninos as a hieria ('priestess'). [6] Konstantinos Kapparis argues that as she was described as a priestess she was probably an Athenian citizen. [7] However, her unusual name and the fact that none of the sources mention a kurios ('guardian') might suggest that she was a metic (a non-citizen long-term resident in Athens) instead. [7] [8]
Both of Demosthenes' speeches against Boeotus describe Menecles as the prosecutor of Ninos. [9] The date of the prosecution is uncertain: Against Boeotus I was delivered in 348, which provides a terminus ante quem; Esther Eidinow suggests a date of between 362 and 358 BC. [10] The case was apparently well known in the mid-fourth century, as Demosthenes refers to it in his speeches as if the jury are expected to be familiar with the case. [11] Menecles would go on to be prosecuted in turn by Ninos' son. [12]
In On the False Embassy, Demosthenes mentions a priestess who was charged with bringing together thiasoi ; one of the scholia on this passage names this priestess as Ninos. [13] The scholia provide two different explanations for Ninos' crime: one says that her crime was mocking the Dionysian Mysteries; another says that she made love potions. [14] It is unclear where the scholiast's information about love potions comes from – Eidinow suggests that it is a misinterpretation of Demosthenes' text, [1] while Matthew Dickie says that the comment "does not emerge from anything in the text of Demosthenes" and may have been derived from an Atthidographer or another speech. [12] Whatever its derivation, Derek Collins is skeptical of the scholiast's report, arguing that manufacturing love potions was not a criminal offence. [15]
Finally, Josephus lists Ninos as one of five Athenians put to death for asebeia (impiety). [12]
