Antidosis was a legal suit. When the assembly picked, say, Crito to pay for a play or a religious ceremony, he had the right to argue that, say, Phaedo should have been picked instead because in Crito’s estimation Phaedo was better off. If Phaedo disagreed, he had the right to refuse but only if he was willing to accept that his whole estate would be given to Crito and that he would receive Crito’s in return. Thus Crito was given pause before claiming Phaedo was richer, and Phaedo thought twice before he disagreed.
