Demosthenes

Demosthenes' political power, set against the reigns of Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedon, stretched over thirty years. Successive generations have judged him the statesman par excellence , and his oratory as some of the finest to survive from classical Greece. His reputation is such that he is still quoted in speeches by modern politicians, and is often viewed as the supreme example of a patriot. Yet, conversely, Demosthenes' political career led to the defeat of Greece by Macedon, and the loss of Greek autonomy. In spite of his undoubted individual importance in fourth-century Greek history, recent scholarship has tended to focus on Demosthenes in the context of his era. This volume redresses the balance, with a thoroughgoing study of the man and his career. Leading scholars discuss Demosthenes' emergence on the political scene; the validity of his anti-Macedonian policy as it affected Athens and Greece; how his speeches came to be regarded so highly, and whether their reputation is justified; and his influence as both statesman and orator. This cohesive and comprehensive work is a landmark in the study of Demosthenes. It will be of immense value to all students and scholars of classical Greek history and oratory.

ISBN 0415204577   Pages 304 ISBN13 9780415204576 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd   Weight (grammes) 386 Imprint Routledge   Published in London Format Paperback   Height (mm) 216 Publication date 26 Oct 2000   Width (mm) 138 Library of Congress PA3952.D68, PA3952.D68   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY 938.07092   Academic level Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Professional / Scholarly DEWEY edition DC21

		List of contributors
		Preface
		Speech numbers and titles
		Abbreviations
		Introduction: Demosthenes, then and now by Ian Worthington		1
1		The road to prominence by E. Badian		9
2		Demosthenes and Philip II by T. T. B. Ryder		45
3		Demosthenes' (in)activity during the reign of Alexander the Great by Ian Worthington		90
4		Demosthenes and Aeschines by John Buckler		114
5		Demosthenes and the social historian by Mark Golden		159
6		Demosthenes as advocate: the private speeches by David C. Mirhady		181
7		The public speeches of Demosthenes by R. D. Milns		205
8		Philosophers, politics, academics: Demosthenes' rhetorical reputation in antiquity by Craig Cooper		224
9		Demosthenes in the underworld: a chapter in the Nachleben of a rhetor by Phillip Harding		246
		Bibliography		272
		Index		286

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