Demosthenes
Demosthenes
Demosthenes is generally acknowledged as the greatest orator in history. He overcame a stammer and the theft of his inheritance by his legal guardians to become as foundational to oratory as his contemporaries Plato and Aristotle are to philosophy.
Much like a major contemporary political figure, he overcame a stammer on his journey to greatness, with “inarticulate and stammering pronunciation.” He was known as “a water drinker”; a stern and serious presence at all times.
His great battle was against the waning of Athenian democracy, which slowly disintegrated into oligarchy and treason over his lifetime. As a legislator, ambassador, and leader he fought against the inexorable rise of Philip of Macedon and, later, Philip’s son Alexander. Fighting for the peace, democracy and equality that Athenian ancestors brought to all Greece, his tale ends in ruin as Athens finally falls, after more than thirty years trying to hold the line.
In historical terms, many of the patterns, descriptions and arguments presented here will seem eerily familiar, like listening to Songs In The Key Of Life for the first time. Every part of it has been reused a thousand times by people ever since its creation, so you are intimately familiar with the style, even if you have never come across it before.
After a prestigious career of public service, the tide turned against him. An accusation of bribery leads to his most famous speech, On The Crown. This defense of his career as the tides turned against him has been described as “the greatest speech of the greatest orator in the world.”
After his conviction, he escaped from prison and went on the run. He was exiled, brought back, then sentenced to death; eventually, fleeing the city again, this time to the island of Kalaureia (modern-day Poros). Discovered by Archias, he asked for time to write a letter to his family, and took poison from a reed.
Duration - 4h 41m.
Author - Demosthenes.
Narrator - Charles Featherstone.
Published Date - Tuesday, 02 January 2024.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Demosthenes
Charles Featherstone
History's Great Speeches
Brimir & Blainn
English Audiobooks
Findaway Audiobooks
Description:
Demosthenes is generally acknowledged as the greatest orator in history. He overcame a stammer and the theft of his inheritance by his legal guardians to become as foundational to oratory as his contemporaries Plato and Aristotle are to philosophy. Much like a major contemporary political figure, he overcame a stammer on his journey to greatness, with “inarticulate and stammering pronunciation.” He was known as “a water drinker”; a stern and serious presence at all times. His great battle was against the waning of Athenian democracy, which slowly disintegrated into oligarchy and treason over his lifetime. As a legislator, ambassador, and leader he fought against the inexorable rise of Philip of Macedon and, later, Philip’s son Alexander. Fighting for the peace, democracy and equality that Athenian ancestors brought to all Greece, his tale ends in ruin as Athens finally falls, after more than thirty years trying to hold the line. In historical terms, many of the patterns, descriptions and arguments presented here will seem eerily familiar, like listening to Songs In The Key Of Life for the first time. Every part of it has been reused a thousand times by people ever since its creation, so you are intimately familiar with the style, even if you have never come across it before. After a prestigious career of public service, the tide turned against him. An accusation of bribery leads to his most famous speech, On The Crown. This defense of his career as the tides turned against him has been described as “the greatest speech of the greatest orator in the world.” After his conviction, he escaped from prison and went on the run. He was exiled, brought back, then sentenced to death; eventually, fleeing the city again, this time to the island of Kalaureia (modern-day Poros). Discovered by Archias, he asked for time to write a letter to his family, and took poison from a reed. Duration - 4h 41m. Author - Demosthenes. Narrator - Charles Featherstone. Published Date - Tuesday, 02 January 2024.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:21
Introduction
Duration:00:06:11
On the naval boards, 354
Duration:00:23:42
For the Megapolitans, 353
Duration:00:17:28
First philippic, 351
Duration:00:24:07
Freedom of the rhodians, 351
Duration:00:20:38
First olynthiac
Duration:00:13:20
Second olynthiac
Duration:00:14:20
Third olynthiac, 349
Duration:00:17:10
On the peace, 346
Duration:00:13:47
Second philippic, 344
Duration:00:14:57
Third philippic, 341
Duration:00:33:34
On the crown, 330, part 1
Duration:00:28:38
On the crown, 330, part 2
Duration:00:39:39
Dinarchus, Against Demosthenes, 324
Duration:00:13:06
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:27