Pasion
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Pasion was a slave in the 4th century BC. He was owned by the bankers Antisthenes and Archestratus (Athenian banker), located at Piraeus, the harbor five miles out of Athenians. During his slavery, he quickly rose to favor to chief clerk in charge of a money-changing table at the port, and proved so valuable that he was finally freed in gratitude of his faithful service. When his owners retired, Pasion bought the bank, and was eventually granted Athenian citizenship, having paid many liturgies for the city.
His son Apollodorus did not engage in banking, but lived off his inheritance like a gentleman; Pasion had left 20 talents in land and 40 in outstanding debt. Much of what we know about Pasion comes from speeches Apollodorus gave in lawsuits. These come down to us among the speeches Demosthenes wrote for litigants, but it is now thought that Apollodorus wrote them himself.
There is a Greek mercenary leader of the Ten Thousand Expedition also named Pasion.
[edit] References
- Milton Melter: Slavery: A World History
- Oxford Classical Dictionary, s.v. Pasion.
