Oxford Classical Texts
2 total works
Demosthenes was punched in the face by Meidias in the theatre at Athens in 348 BC. His prosecution speech for this offence is one of the most intriguing texts in Greek literature. Besides telling the story of his long feud with Meidias, it gives much valuable information about Athenian law and festivals, and about the concept of insolent behaviour which the Greeks called "hybris". It is also an outstanding example of Greek prose writing. The text of this edition is based on a number of manuscripts and is supplemented with a double apparatus criticus giving testimonia and variant readings. The book also includes a complete translation of the speech with detailed commentary, and a full introduction to historical, legal, literary and textual matters.
