Against Meidias
Encyclopedia
Against Meidias is one of the most famous judicial orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes
.
, a wealthy Athenian, publicly slapped Demosthenes, who was at the time a choregos at the Greater Dionysia
. Meidias was a friend of Eubulus
and supporter of the unsuccessful excursion in Euboea
. He also was an old enemy of the orator, forcibly entering Demosthenes' house along with his brother Thrasylochus in 361 BC, in order to take possession of it.
maintained that Demosthenes received money to drop the case.
Against Meidias is regarded as one of the most intriguing forensic speeches to survive. It gives valuable information about Athenian law and festivals, and especially about the Greek concept of hybris
(aggravated assault), which was regarded as a crime not only against the city but against society as a whole. As Galen O. Rowe points out, "the single most important recurrence in the speech is the root of hybris in its various grammatical forms and parts of speech. In fact hybris, to use the noun for every manifestation of the root, occurs in the speech 131 times, as opposed to 274 times in the entire Demosthenic corpus and 170 times in all the other Greek orators". This speech also gives valuable information about Athenian law. The orator underscores that a democratic state perishes, if the law is undermined by wealthy and unscrupulous men, and asserts that the citizens acquire power and authority in all state-affairs due "to the strength of the laws".
J. H. Vince asserts that the speech is indisputably authentic, but it seems improbable that it was published by Demosthenes himself. According to the same scholar, "the speech is notable as being the earliest in which the Demosthenic note of δεινότης (terrible earnestness) is heard, but it leaves an unpleasant impression. In the pathetic passages we remember the trivial occasion of the action, nor can the victim's indignation hide the fact that he accepted a compromise".
Demosthenes
Demosthenes was a prominent 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...
.
Historical background
MeidiasMeidias
Meidias , an Athenian of considerable wealth and influence, was a violent and bitter enemy of Demosthenes, the orator. He displayed his first act of hostility in 361 BC when he broke violently into the house of Demosthenes with his brother Thrasylochus in order to take possession of it...
, a wealthy Athenian, publicly slapped Demosthenes, who was at the time a choregos at the Greater Dionysia
Dionysia
The Dionysia[p] was a large festival in ancient Athens in honor of the god Dionysus, the central events of which were the theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and, from 487 BC, comedies. It was the second-most important festival after the Panathenaia...
. Meidias was a friend of Eubulus
Eubulus (statesman)
Eubulus, or Euboulos was a statesman of ancient Athens, who was very influential in Athenian politics during the period 355 BC to 342 BC and was notable for his abilities in managing Athenian finances....
and supporter of the unsuccessful excursion in Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
. He also was an old enemy of the orator, forcibly entering Demosthenes' house along with his brother Thrasylochus in 361 BC, in order to take possession of it.
The oration
Demosthenes made no resistance to Meidias' violation of the place and occasion, but after the festival, when a special meeting of the Assembly, he entered a complaint against Meidias. The orator wrote the judicial speech Against Meidias, but he probably never pronounced it. He retired his accusation probably for political reasons although AeschinesAeschines
Aeschines was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.-Life:Although it is known he was born in Athens, the records regarding his parentage and early life are conflicting; but it seems probable that his parents, though poor, were respectable. Aeschines' father was Atrometus, an...
maintained that Demosthenes received money to drop the case.
Against Meidias is regarded as one of the most intriguing forensic speeches to survive. It gives valuable information about Athenian law and festivals, and especially about the Greek concept of hybris
Hybris
Hybris may refer to:* Hubris, exaggerated self pride. "Hybris" is an alternative transliteration of the original ancient Greek word ὕβρις.* 430 Hybris, a typical Main belt asteroid* Hybris , the first studio album by Änglagård...
(aggravated assault), which was regarded as a crime not only against the city but against society as a whole. As Galen O. Rowe points out, "the single most important recurrence in the speech is the root of hybris in its various grammatical forms and parts of speech. In fact hybris, to use the noun for every manifestation of the root, occurs in the speech 131 times, as opposed to 274 times in the entire Demosthenic corpus and 170 times in all the other Greek orators". This speech also gives valuable information about Athenian law. The orator underscores that a democratic state perishes, if the law is undermined by wealthy and unscrupulous men, and asserts that the citizens acquire power and authority in all state-affairs due "to the strength of the laws".
J. H. Vince asserts that the speech is indisputably authentic, but it seems improbable that it was published by Demosthenes himself. According to the same scholar, "the speech is notable as being the earliest in which the Demosthenic note of δεινότης (terrible earnestness) is heard, but it leaves an unpleasant impression. In the pathetic passages we remember the trivial occasion of the action, nor can the victim's indignation hide the fact that he accepted a compromise".
External links
- Demosthenes, Against Meidias (in both Greek text and English translation, at Perseus)
- J.H. Vince's introduction to the speech