For the Megalopolitans

For the Megalopolitans

For the Megalopolitans (Ancient Greek:Polytonic| "Υπὲρ τῶν Μεγαλοπολιτῶν") is one of the first political orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. It was delivered in 352 BC and constitutes one of the initial political interventions of Demosthenes. In 352 BC, Sparta endeavored to reestablish its preeminence in Peloponnese and to undo Epaminondas' achievements. Because of Thebes' war with the Phocians, Spartans thought that they could easily overturn Arcadia's independence. Therefore, they sent troops to Megalopolis, which asked for Athens' support and military assistance. Sparta tried also to gain Athens' alliance, promising to help the Athenians to seize Oropos. ecclesia convened in order to take the final decision and Demosthenes was among those who expressed their opinion. In "For the Megalopolitans", Demosthenes asserted that Athens must send troops to assist the Megalopolitans against Sparta. Proposing such a policy, he bluntly opposed Eubulus's faction, which was against any military excursion. Demosthenes, on the other hand, sought for the restoration of Athens' glory and, for this purpose, he believed that his city should participate in war conflicts around Greece, recreating strong alliances and reinstating itself as an hegemony. It seems that the orator did not manage to convince his countrymen. Thebes, however, managed to send its own troops to Peloponnese, preserving the imposed by Epaminondas status quo.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • On the Crown — (Greek: Ὑπὲρ Κτησιφῶντος περὶ τοῦ Στεφάνου) is the most famous judicial oration of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes, delivered in 330 BC. Contents 1 Historical background 2 Content of the speech 3 …   Wikipedia

  • On the False Embassy — ( Greek: Περὶ τῆς παραπρεσβείας) is the name of two famous judicial orations, both delivered in 343 BC by the prominent Athenian statesmen and fierce opponents, Demosthenes and Aeschines. Contents 1 Historical background 2 The speeches …   Wikipedia

  • On the Peace — (Greek: Περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης) is one of the most famous political orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. It was delivered in 346 BC and constitutes a political intervention of Demosthenes in favor of the Peace of… …   Wikipedia

  • On the Liberty of the Rhodians — (Greek: Υπὲρ τῆς Ροδίων ἐλευθερίας) is one of the first political orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. It was delivered in 351 BC, probably after the First Philippic, and constitutes one of the initial political… …   Wikipedia

  • On the Navy — (Ancient Greek: Περὶ τῶν Συμμοριῶν) is the first political oration of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. It was delivered in 354 BC and constitutes one of the initial political interventions of Demosthenes. On the Navy is a… …   Wikipedia

  • On the Chersonese — is a political oration delivered by the Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes in 341 BC. A short time later Demosthenes delivered one of his most famous speeches, the Third Philippic. Contents 1 Historical background 2 Content 3 External… …   Wikipedia

  • On the Halonnesus — ( Greek: Περὶ τῆς Ἀλοννήσου) is a political oration attributed to the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. The speech constitutes an Athenian response to a letter of Philip II of Macedon, with which the King of Macedon proposed… …   Wikipedia

  • Demosthenes — For other historical and fictional personages named Demosthenes, see Demosthenes (disambiguation). Demosthenes Bust of Demosthenes (Louvre, Paris, France) Born …   Wikipedia

  • Olynthiacs — The Olynthiacs were three political speeches, all delivered by the Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. In 349 BC Philip II of Macedon attacked Olynthus, which at the time was an ally of Athens. In the Olynthiacs, delivered in 349 BC,… …   Wikipedia

  • Demosthenes' Funeral Oration — (Greek: Ἐπιτάφιος Λόγος) was delivered between August and September of 338 BC, just after the Battle of Chaeronea. It constitutes along with the Erotic Essay the two epideictic orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator, which are… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”