Minor Attic orators

Edición de la obra Minor Attic orators

V.I. ANTIPHON of Athens, born in 480 B.C., spent his prime in the great period of Athens but, disliking democracy was himself an ardent oligarch who with others set up a violent short-lived oligarchy in 411. The restored democracy executed him for treason. He had been a writer of speeches for other people involved in litigation. Of the fifteen surviving works three concern real murder-cases, the others being exercises in speech-craft consisting of three 'tetralogies' whereof each tetralogy comprises four skeleton speeches: accuser's; defendant's; accuser's reply; defendant's counter-reply. ANDOCIDES of Athens, born c440 B.C., disliked the extremes of both democracy and oligarchy. Involved in religious scandal in 415 B.C., he went into a money-making exile. After at least two efforts to return, he did so under the amnesty of 403. In 399 he was acquitted on a charge of profaning the 'Mysteries' and in 391-390 took part in an abortive peace embassy to Sparta. Extand speeches are: 'On his Return' (a plea on his second attempt); "On the Mysteries' (a self-defence); 'On the Peace with Sparta'. The speech 'Against Alcibiades' (the notorious politician) is suspect. V.2. Four orators involved in the ill-fated resistance of Athens to the power of Philip and Alexander the Great of Macedon were: -- LYCURGUS of Athens, c.396-325 B.C., who concentrated on home affairs especially financial, which he managed for twelve years, and naval matters; and constructed and repaired important public buildings. Athens refused to surrender him to Alexander and honoured him until his death. DINARCHUS of Corinth. c.361-291, who as resident alien in Athens became a forensic speaker and also assailed Demosthenes and others. He was accused by Alexander's runaway treasurer Harpalus of corruption. He favoured oligarchic government under Macedonian control. He prospered under the regency of Demetrius Phalereus (317-307), but was exiled after the restoration of democracy, returning c.292. DEMADES of Athens, c.380-318, who was an able seaman, then unscrupulous politician, favoured Philip, but fought for Athens at Chaeronea (338). Captured there and released by Philip, he helped to make peace, and later influenced Alexander and then Antipater in Athens' favour. But acceptance of bribes and his tortuous policy ruined him and he was executed by Antipater. HYPERIDES of Athens, c.390-322, was a man of taste, and a forensic and political speaker who was hostile to Philip and led Athens' patriots after 325. For resistance to Antipater he ullltimately met death by violence. What survives today of his speeches was discovered in the nineteenth century.