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In 346 BC. the Athenians negotiated a peace treaty with King Philip II of Macedon, but afterwards one of the Athenian ambassadors, Demosthenes, accused another, Aiskhines, of accepting a bribe from Philip to contrive that the terms of the treaty should be favourable to him. The case came to trial three years later, and On the False Embassy is the speech which Demosthenes prepared for the prosecution. It is one of the most famous pieces of ancient oratory, and it is also one of the principal sources of information about the politics of its period.This volume is on the same lines as Professor MacDowell's previous edition of Demosthenes' speech Against Meidias. It includes an introduction concentrating especially on the historical circumstances, a revised Greek text based on fresh study of the manuscripts, an English translation on pages facing the text, and the first detailed commentary on the speech for over a hundred years.
This volume investigates the legal and political ramifications of the 346 BC peace negotiations between Athens and King Philip II of Macedon through the lens of Demosthenes' prosecution speech. The author, Professor MacDowell, provides a scholarly framework that contextualizes the trial of Aiskhines, who was accused of corruption and treason. By analyzing the historical circumstances and the rhetorical strategies employed by Demosthenes, the text serves as a primary source for understanding the power dynamics of the period.
What You Will Find
Scholars and classicists recognize this edition as a foundational resource for the study of Demosthenic oratory and fourth-century Athenian politics. Readers frequently note the academic density of the commentary, which provides necessary clarity for navigating the complex legal arguments presented in the speech.
Page Count:
392
Publication Date:
2001-03-22
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198153031
ISBN-13:
9780198153030
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