Demosthenes: Selected Political Speeches

An edition aimed at students of five of Demosthenes' Assembly speeches arguing for a military response to Philip II of Macedon.

Judson Herrman (Edited by)

9781107021334, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 July 2019

306 pages, 1 map
22.3 x 14.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.54 kg

Demosthenes, as an emerging political leader in fourth-century Athens, delivered a series of fiery speeches to the citizens in the democratic Assembly, attacking the Macedonian king Philip II as an aggressive imperialist bent on destroying the city's independence. This volume presents the Greek text of five of these speeches with full introduction and detailed commentary. They show how the foremost politician of the day argued his case before the people who made policy decisions in the Assembly, and how he eventually persuaded them to support his doomed militaristic position in preference to the more pragmatic stance of accommodation advocated by his political opponents. These speeches are unique sources for the ideology and political history of this crucial period, and the best specimens of persuasive rhetoric in action from democratic Athens. This edition takes account of recent studies of fourth-century Athens and showcases Demosthenes as a master of Greek prose style.

Introduction
1. Historical background
2. Assembly speeches
3. Language and style
4. Publication
5. The afterlife of the speeches
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Commentary
First Olynthiac
Second Olynthiac
Third Olynthiac
First Philippic
Third Philippic.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Translation & interpretation [CFP]