This is the fourth volume in the Oratory of Classical Greece series. Planned for publication over several years, the series will present all of the surviving speeches from the late fifth and fourth centuries B.C. in new translations prepared by classical scholars who are at the forefront of the discipline. These translations are especially designed for the needs and interests of today's undergraduates, Greekless scholars in other disciplines, and the general public.

Classical oratory is an invaluable resource for the study of ancient Greek life and culture. The speeches offer evidence on Greek moral views, social and economic conditions, political and social ideology, and other aspects of Athenian culture that have been largely ignored: women and family life, slavery, and religion, to name just a few.

This volume contains works from the early, middle, and late career of the Athenian rhetorician Isocrates (436-338). Among the translated works are his legal speeches, pedagogical essays, and his lengthy autobiographical defense, Antidosis. In them, he seeks to distinguish himself and his work, which he characterizes as "philosophy," from that of the sophists and other intellectuals such as Plato. Isocrates' identity as a teacher was an important mode of political activity, through which he sought to instruct his students, foreign rulers, and his fellow Athenians. He was a controversial figure who championed a role for the written word in fourth-century politics and thought.

Translation of the texts of the written speeches of Isocrates, one of the leading intellectual figures in Greece during the 4th century BC

About the Author
Isocrates' speeches are introduced and translated by David C. Mirhady, Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities at Simon Fraser University, and Yun Lee Too, Assistant Professor of Classics at Columbia University.


Book Information
ISBN 9780292752382
Author David C. Mirhady
Format Paperback
Page Count 311
Imprint University of Texas Press
Publisher University of Texas Press
Weight(grams) 399g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 18mm