Synopses & Reviews
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.
Synopsis
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.
Table of Contents
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