The Orations of Lysias (ePub)

Lysias (c. 445 - c. 380 BCE) is one of antiquity's most esteemed Attic orators and logographers. His life straddles the end of the Peloponnesian War and the beginning of a challenging democratic restoration in Athens. Lysias was born in Athens, although some historical accounts suggest he could have been born in Thurii. His father, Cephalus, was a wealthy Syracusan, which later played a role in his tumultuous political life. Despite his foreign roots, Lysias was deeply involved in the civic life of Athens but was never granted citizenship due to his metic (resident alien) status. Experiencing the reign of the Thirty Tyrants, he suffered personally and financially, driving him to become an ardent supporter of Athenian democracy. Lysias's contributions to literature are his orations, which were composed for litigants to deliver in court. Of the approximately 230 orations attributed to him, only 34 speeches and several fragments survive today. His most famous anthology, 'The Orations of Lysias', exhibits the characteristics that distinguish his literary style: clarity of expression, logical structure, and an appealing presentation of character. Lysias's work is not only of literary significance; it also offers invaluable insights into the legal, social, and political fabric of ancient Athens. His orations are studied not only for their stylistic artistry but also for their historical context, making Lysias a vital subject in classical studies. His influential role in the development of oratorical prose has merited his inclusion in the 'Canon of Ten', a list of the greatest Attic orators and logographers.