Diodotus (son of Eucrates)

Diodotus (Greek: Διόδοτος), son of Eucrates,^[1] was an opponent to the proposal of Cleon – leader of the radical, imperialist faction in Athens – in 427 BC to kill all adult Mytilenean males and to enslave their women and children after the defeat of Mytilene^[2] (see also Mytilenean revolt). He seems to represent the moderate faction in Athens (in favour of Pericles' policy).^[3]

Diodotus' proposal won in the assembly,^[4] so that in the end only Cleon's next proposal was carried out: to punish by death those Mytileneans who were sent by Paches to Athens^[5] (which were a little over a thousand; this was probably about 10% of the adult male population of the rebelling cities on Lesbos). The execution took place without proper trial.^[6]

Diodotus' one speech in Thucydides is all we know of him.