Loeb Classical Library #244: Lysias

Lysias (ca. 458–ca. 380 BCE), born at Athens, son of a wealthy Syracusan settled in Attica, lived in Peiraeus, where with his brother he inherited his father's shield factory. Being a loyal supporter of democracy, Lysias took the side of the democrats at Athens against the Thirty Tyrants in 404, supplying shields and money. After one political speech in accusation of Eratosthenes (one of the Thirty) in 405, he became at Athens a busy professional speech writer for the law courts. At the Olympic festival of 388 he denounced, with riotous results, the costly display of the embassy sent by Dionysius I of Syracuse and the domination of Sicily by Dionysius.

The surviving speeches of Lysias (about thirty complete out of a very much larger number) are fluent, simple and graceful in style yet vivid in description. They suggest a passionate partisan who was also a gentle humorous man. We see in him the art of oratory young and fresh.

Lysias (c. 458–c. 380 BCE) took the side of democracy against the Thirty Tyrants in 404 BCE. Of a much larger number about thirty complete speeches by him survive. Fluent, simple, and graceful in style yet vivid in description, they suggest a passionate partisan who was also a gentle, humorous man.

Preface

Select Bibliography

General Introduction

Chronological Summary

I. On The Murder Of Eratosthenes

II. Funeral Oration

III. Against Simon

IV. On A Wound By Premeditation

V. For Callias: Defence On A Charge Of Sacrilege

VI. Against Andocides: For Impiety

VII. Before The Areopagus: Defence In The Matter Of The Olive-Stump

VIII. Accusation Of Calumny Against Fellow-Members Of A Society

IX. For The Soldier

X. Against Theomnestus, I

XI. Against Theomnestus, II

XII. Against Eratosthenes

XIII. Against Agoratus: In Pursuance Of A Writ

XIV. Against Alcibiades, I.: For Deserting The Ranks

XV. Against Alcibiades, II.: For Refusal Of Military Service

XVI. Before The Council : In Defence Of Mantitheus At His Scrutiny.

XVII. On The Property Of Eraton: Against The Treasury

XVIII. On The Confiscation Of The Property Of The Brother Of Nicias: Peroration

XIX. On The Property Of Aristophanes: Against The Treasury

XX. For Polystratus

XXI. Defence Against A Charge Of Taking Bribes

XXII. Against The Corn-Dealers

XXIII. Against Pancleon

XXIV. On The Refusal Of A Pension To The Invalid

XXV. Defence Against A Charge Of Subverting The Democracy

XXVI. On The Scrutiny Of Evandros

XXVII. Against Epicrates And His Fellow-Envoys

XXVIII. Against Ergocles

XXIX. Against Philocrates

XXX. Against Nicomachus

XXXI. Against Philon, On His Scrutiny

XXXII. Against Diogeiton

XXXIII. Olympic Oration

XXXIV. Against The Subversion Of The Ancestral Constitution Of Athens

Index