Demosthenes, the ancient Greek orator and statesman, is most famous for eloquently crafting his speech to whip up strong Athenian opposition to two great kings of the era – Philip of Macedon Philip II of Macedon was the king of the kingdom of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty of Macedonian kings, the third son of King Amyntas III of Macedon, and father of Alexander the Great and Philip III. The rise of Macedon, its c…Philip II of Macedon
World History Edu present a complete life story of Demosthenes, a renowned Greek statesman and arguably the greatest orator of ancient Greek era. Demosthenes was said to be born around 384 BC in Athens, ancient Greece. At the age of seven, he lost his father, a wealthy sword maker.
Demosthenes as Speech Writer. Demosthenes was a professional speech writer or logographer. Demosthenes wrote speeches against Athenians he believed guilty of corruption. His first Philippic was in 352 (it is named for the man Demosthenes opposed, Philip of Macedonia.)
French author and lawyer Guillaume du Vair praised his speeches for their artful arrangement and elegant style; John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, and Jacques Amyot, a French Renaissance writer and translator, regarded Demosthenes as a great or even the "supreme" orator.
Demosthenes ( Second Olynthiac, 10)—The orator faced serious accusations more than once, but he never admitted to any improper actions and insisted that it is impossible "to gain permanent power by injustice, perjury, and falsehood".
Why did Alexander lead his men back home in 327 B.C.? His soldiers were tired and refused to go farther.
What evidence does Demosthenes give that Philip is a threat? He robbed and insulted them. According to Demosthenes, what will happen to the Greeks if they fail in their duty? They can expect disaster.
What does Demosthenes predict? If the Athenians ignore Philip, there will be disaster.
True. Philip's son Demosthenes proclaimed himself king of Macedonia upon Philip's death. Philip's son Alexander proclaimed himself king of Macedonia upon Philip's death. Darius III attempted to lead Persian forces against the Macedonians, but failed.
Which line of Demosthenes' speech tells what he thinks will happen if the Greeks ignore Philip? Line 7- "... forced to fight here... You need not speculate..."(Which means, unless we are willing to fight him there we shall perhaps be forced to fight him here.)
Sophocles (SAH fuh-kleez) was a great Athenian writer. In his plays, Sophocles accepted suffering as a real part of life. He also stressed courage and understanding.
Demosthenes, (born 384 bce, Athens [Greece]—died Oct. 12, 322, Calauria, Argolis), Athenian statesman, recognized as the greatest of ancient Greek orators, who roused Athens to oppose Philip of Macedon and, later, his son Alexander the Great.
Demosthenes (c. 384 - 322 BCE) was an Athenian statesman who famously stood against Macedonian king Philip II and whose surviving speeches have established him as one of the greatest patriots and powerful orators from ancient Greece. He is not to be confused with the 5th century BCE Athenian general of the same name.
Answer: Satyrus, an actor was with Demosthenes at this point and they were talking about Demosthenes's speech.
In 352 BC, Demosthenes characterised Philip as the very worst enemy of his city; his speech presaged the fierce attacks that Demosthenes would launch against the Macedonian king over the ensuing years.
Philip was the self-proclaimed protector of the Roman Catholic Church. He sought to limit the spread of Protestantism, and he ultimately completed the work of unification begun by Ferdinand and Isabella (the “Catholic Monarchs”) in the Iberian Peninsula.
Demosthenes was a statesman and orator who lived in Athens during the fourth century BC. To overcome a speech impediment he is said to have practised speaking with pebbles in his mouth. He also gave speeches on the seashore, projecting his voice over the sound of the waves in preparation for tumultuous crowds.
Demosthenes ( / dɪˈmɒs.θəniːz /; Greek: Δημοσθένης, romanized : Dēmosthénēs; Attic Greek: [dɛːmosˈtʰenɛːs]; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture ...
Demosthenes was admitted to his δῆμος ( dêmos) as a citizen with full rights probably in 366 BC, and he soon demonstrated an interest in politics.
Nonetheless, Aeschines was acquitted by the narrow margin of thirty votes by a jury which may have numbered as many as 1,501. In 343 BC, Macedonian forces were conducting campaigns in Epirus and, in 342 BC, Philip campaigned in Thrace.
To make his living, Demosthenes became a professional litigant, both as a " logographer " ( λογογράφος, logographos ), writing speeches for use in private legal suits, and as an advocate ( συνήγορος, sunégoros) speaking on another's behalf.
Demosthenes started to learn rhetoric because he wished to take his guardians to court and because he was of "delicate physique" and could not receive gymnastic education, which was customary.
To prevent a similar revolt against his own rule , Alexander's successor in this region, Antipater, sent his men to track Demosthenes down. Demosthenes took his own life, to avoid being arrested by Archias of Thurii, Antipater's confidant.
As a boy Demosthenes had a speech impairment: Plutarch refers to a weakness in his voice of "a perplexed and indistinct utterance and a shortness of breath, which, by breaking and disjointing his sentences much obscured the sense and meaning of what he spoke.".
The first time Demosthenes made a speech in the public assembly was a disaster. Discouraged, he was fortunate to run into an actor who helped show him what he needed to do to make his speeches compelling. To perfect the technique, he set up a routine, which he followed for months until he had mastered oratory.
He died in 322. Demosthenes' father, also Demosthenes, was an Athenian citizen from the deme of Paeania who died when Demosthenes was seven. His mother was named Cleobule.
Aspects of Athenian Political Life. Greek men of means were expected to contribute to the polis and so Demosthe nes, who became active politically in c. 356 B.C. , outfitted a trireme and, as choregus at Athens, he paid for a theatrical performance. Demosthenes also fought as a hoplite at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338.
When Alexander insisted that the Athenian orators be delivered to him to be punished for treason, Demosthenes fled to a temple of Poseidon for sanctuary. A guard prevailed on him to come out. Realizing he was at the end of his rope, Demosthenes requested permission to write a letter.
Plutarch on the Self-Training of Demosthenes. Hereupon he built himself a place to study in underground (which was still remaining in our time), and hither he would come constantly every day to form his action and to exercise his voice, and here he would continue, oftentimes without intermission, two or three months together, ...
Demosthenes as Speech Writer. Demosthenes was a professional speech writer or logographer. Demosthenes wrote speeches against Athenians he believed guilty of corruption. His first Philippic was in 352 (it is named for the man Demosthenes opposed, Philip of Macedonia.)
Demosthenes became an official Athenian orator. As an official orator, he warned against Philip when the Macedonian king and father of Alexander the Great was beginning his conquest of Greece. Demosthenes' three orations against Philip, known as the Philippics, were so bitter that today a severe speech denouncing someone is called a Philippic.
Demosthenes was born in Athens in the year 384 BC. His father, who was a wealthy knife maker, was called Demosthenes as well and his mother was named Kleovouli.
In 357 BC, Athens became involved in a Social War with some of her colonies. At the same time, the Sacred War broke out between Thebes and Phocis.
Philip II continued to advance southward, taking Phocis and moving towards Athens. It was time for Athens and its allies to stand back and accept Philip into the Council of the League.
In 324 BC, Demosthenes was accused of taking 20 talents deposited in Athens by Harpalus, a refugee from Alexander’s Army.
Demosthenes was said to be born around 384 BC in Athens, ancient Greece. At the age of seven, he lost his father, a wealthy sword maker. The young Demosthenes was placed in the care of a guardian called Aphobus who is said to have denied Demosthenes a large chunk of his deceased father’s properties.
Historians have noted that Demosthenes immersed himself in oratory and social and legal rhetoric as a means to compensate for his slight physical disability. He most likely took that path because he believed he could use those oratory skills to mount a strong legal challenge against guardians and family members who took away his inheritance.
Demosthenes’ career as an orator effectively lifted off when he started working as a speech writer. In ancient Greece, persons involved in a lawsuit had to make their submissions by giving a speech. As a result the profession of speech writing (i.e. logography) of flourished.
Undoubtedly inspired by the likes of Athenian lawgiver Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles (all of who were renowned advocates of democratic systems), Demosthenes was one of the few influential people in 4 th century BC Athens that were opposed to the influence monarchs of Macedon wielded over the city-state.
Perhaps the last straw that prompted Demosthenes to go against King Philip came in 356 BC when the latter annexed a large part of Thrace. Under the pretext of securing Athens control in those cities, Philip established a strong Macedonian presence.
Another significant accomplishment of Demosthenes came in the spring of 346 when he was a member of the Athenian delegation that signed a peace treaty with Philip of Macedon. Demosthenes saw the treaty, which was known as the Peace of Philocrates, as a means to reduce the mounting tensions between Athens and Macedon.
Demosthenes tried to create a coalition of Greek city-states to counter the imperlistic policies of Macedon. This need was created after Philip of Macedon reneged on many of terms of the peace treaty in 346 BC.
Although he passed away in 322 BC, Demosthenes is relevant to 21 st century orators because of his dedication to practice and preparation. Demosthenes’ dream was to be a great orator, but he had speech impediments. He was ridiculed early and often for his deficiencies, but he never quit.
Public speaking expert is a title that carries tremendous weight. Public speaking expert. is a title that carries tremendous weight. Demosthenes, public speaking expert of the 4 th century BC, is one of the legendary Greek orators. Some of his most famous (and my favorite) addresses of his relate to his opposition to King Phillip II of Macedon.
Prepared himself to overcome noise by speaking in stormy weather on the seashore. Recited verses while running to improve his breathing and cadence. Passed two or three months in an underground cave, practicing his oratory. While there, he would shave half of his head to prevent himself from leaving the cave.
When Alexander the Great succeeded the throne after his father Philip of Macedon was assassinated (in 336 BC), there was a lot of optimism that peace would prevail between Athens and Macedonians. However, that hope was quickly dashed when Alexander the Great took an even more aggressive stand than his father.
Demosthenes’ strong criticism of his chief adversary Greek statesman Aechines.
Similar to the fate that Aechines suffered, Demosthenes also found himself going into exile 337 BC. The renowned orator had been convicted of a very serious offense before he decided to flee the country.
With the death of Alexander the Great, the influence Macedon held in Athens also died. The new crop of leaders allowed Demosthenes to make a return to Athens on the condition that he paid his fine.
Rather than be captured by Antipater’s agents, Demosthenes chose to commit suicide by drinking poison. Prior to his death, his friend-turned-enemy Greek statesman Demedes succeeded in getting the court to pass a death sentence on Demosthenes.
Demosthenes was a Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators. He delivered his first judicial speeches at …
The "publication" and distribution of prose texts was common practice in Athens by the latter half of the fourth century BC and Demosthenes was among the Athenian politicians who set the trend, publishing many or even all of his orations. After his death, texts of his speeches survived in Athens (possibly forming part of the library of Cicero's friend, Atticus, though their fate is otherwise unknown), and in the Library of Alexandria.
In 1936, an American botanist Albert Charles Smith named a genus of shrubs in the family Ericaceae, which were native to south America, as Demosthenesia in honour of Demosthenes.
• Pseudo-Demosthenes