Minor Attic Orators: Lycurgus. Dinarchus. Demades. Hyperides

Download or read book Minor Attic Orators: Lycurgus. Dinarchus. Demades. Hyperides written by and published by . This book was released on 1954 with total page 664 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.