Menestheus, the first demagogue

 The ancient Greeks said that the first demagogue was a fellow named Menestheus.

He came to power during the four years that Theseus, the Athenian hero, was locked up in Tartarus. It was a romantic misadventure — Theseus and his drinking buddy Peirithous the Lapith raided hell, hoping to steal a wife for Peirithous. It went badly, but that’s a story for another day.

Theseus had given the Athenians democracy. He resigned as king and taught that a sovereign people must learn to govern themselves.

But while he was locked up in hell for four years, Menestheus talked the talk. He said two things:

First, he told the rich people how much they’d lost by contributing to the common good.

Second, he told the poor people they were being robbed of their country and religion. He claimed the country could be great only by making it what it used to be.

Such are the tales of demagogues. When the people listen to them, they lose their democracy, their sovereignty, their ability to rule themselves.

I think all democracies ought to have a monument to Menestheus and a holiday in his memory. He’s not one to forget.