Greek Orators II: Dinarchus and Hyperides

Hyperides was ranked in antiquity amongst the Ten Attic Orators second only to Demosthenes. His execution in 322 B.C. for his opposition to Macedonian rule left Dinarchus as the last of the Ten to survive. The book critically evaluates the speeches of Dinarchus and of Hyperides against Demosthenes and Hyperides’ funeral oration as historical sources for Athens in the last years of the reign of Alexander the Great and also the Lamian War. The history of the period is discussed in detail, as is the rhetorical style of these two orators. This is the first commentary in English on these two important speeches by Hyperides. A Greek text which also makes Hyperides’ fragmented speeches approachable is provided along with an English translation. The commentary is essentially historical, but some literary and philological points are discussed.