Isokrates: The Forensic Speeches (Nos. 16–21)

Download or read book Isokrates: The Forensic Speeches (Nos. 16–21) written by David Whitehead and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-04-21 with total page 1162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Athenian Isokrates (436–338 BC) is well-known for his long career as an educator and pundit; but originally he wrote 'forensic' speeches, i.e. for delivery in court. Six of them survive (five from Athens, one from Aigina), on issues including assault, fraud and inheritance. Here for the first time, after a General Introduction, they are presented and analysed in depth as a self-contained group. The Greek text and a facing English translation - both new - are augmented by commentaries which juxtapose this material with other surviving writers in the genre (and with Isocrates' own later output). In the process, too, the speeches' historical background, personnel, legal context, rhetorical strategies and all other relevant topics are explored.