The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes

Demosthenes, 384 BCE-322 BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.4

Word count: 196K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes by DemosthenesAuthor: Demosthenes, 384 BCE-322 BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Nov 1, 2004

Editor's review

This is an English translation of Demosthenes' three Olynthiacs and four Philippics, a public-domain classical text offered by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in the convenience of a modern introduction but in giving readers direct access to the source texts of Western political oratory: the crisis debates in Athens as Macedon rose, with fierce language and tight structure, showing how classical rhetoric served the city-state's diplomacy and decisions on war. Reading it conveys the speaker's urgent assessment of the situation, his repeated calls to civic duty, and the persuasive force of rhetorical rhythm. It suits as supplementary material for the study of classical rhetoric, ancient Greek history, or political oratory, and for readers interested in how Athenian democracy operated and the background of Macedonian expansion. Note that this is a public-domain electronic text with an older translation and no detailed notes or maps; beginners may need accompanying historical background material.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying ancient Greek political history and the rise of Macedon
Students and enthusiasts of classical rhetoric and oratorical structure
Beginners in Western classics who need primary oratorical texts
Serious readers interested in Athenian democratic decision-making

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking popular history narratives or modern commentary
Classics beginners who need detailed notes, maps, and introductions
Casual readers who prefer light fiction or contemporary topics

Reading tips

Read one Philippic first and mark the main point of each paragraph to grasp the speech's structure and order of argument.
Use a timeline of Macedon's rise and the Athenian alliance, checking events as you read.
Read different speeches on the same issue side by side to see how Demosthenes adjusts his persuasive strategy.
Read passages of the English translation aloud to feel the rhythm of classical oratory and the effect of repeated rhetoric.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Which speeches of Demosthenes does this book contain?

According to the title and the material, it contains the two groups of speeches, the Olynthiacs and the Philippics, all political speeches by Demosthenes on Philip II of Macedon's expansion and Athens' response, published in English translation by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain text.

Can I read it without a background in ancient Greek history?

You can, but it will be difficult. The speeches involve specific events such as the Athenian alliance, the Olynthian crisis, and Macedonian diplomacy. It is best to learn the basic timeline first and then read speech by speech; otherwise you may see only the rhetoric and miss the political context.

Does this edition have notes and an introduction?

The material shows this is a public-domain electronic text from Project Gutenberg and does not mention modern notes, an introduction, or maps. Readers who need detailed explication should use classics reference books or an annotated scholarly edition alongside it.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Demosthenes, 384 BCE-322 BCE Author

Demosthenes (384 BCE–322 BCE) was an orator and statesman of ancient Athens. Public information about his life is limited, and the available records do not provide a complete biography; his transmitted image rests mainly on his speeches. Four of his works are included here: The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes and the two-volume The Public Orations of Demosthenes (volume 1 and volume 2), along with a Finnish translation, Puhe kunniaseppeleestä (On the Crown). These works consist chiefly of political and forensic speeches, marked by tightly reasoned argument, forceful rhythm, and a strong appeal to the emotions of the audience. They are important sources for the study of ancient Greek rhetoric and Athenian politics, and they have had a lasting influence on the European oratorical tradition.