Lysias: Selected Speeches

Six of Lysias' professional legal speeches chosen for their interest and accessible language.

Lysias (Author), Christopher Carey (Edited by)

9780521269889, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 25 January 1990

248 pages
20.3 x 12.7 x 1.4 cm, 0.27 kg

The Greek prose writer Lysias is a fascinating source for the study of Athenian law, society and history in the late fifth century BC. Six of his professional legal speeches are selected in this new edition, both for their intrinsic interest and because the language is accessible even to the comparative beginner. In his introduction Dr Carey discusses Lysias' life and place in the evolution of Greek prose style, and the development of Greek rhetoric. He approaches the speeches in terms of their function, as attempts to secure a verdict favourable to the speaker, and assesses how effectively the selection and deployment of arguments promote this end. In the commentary he addresses problems of Lysias' style and syntax, and textual issues where necessary, but the particular focus is always literary: Lysias' use of rhetorical devices, his marshalling of fact and argument and his manipulation of contemporary values and prejudices are examined in detail. These speeches are invaluable historical documents and will be of interest to students of ancient history and civilisation, as well as classicists.

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Life
2. Speeches and speechwriters
3. Lysias as speechwriter
4. Authenticity
5. The text
Lysias: Selected Speeches: 1. On the murder of Eratosthenes
3. Against Simon
7. On the olive-stump
14. Against Alkibiades
31. Against Philon
32. Against Diogeiton
Commentary
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]