"Against Leptines" was a speech given by Demosthenes in which he called for the repeal of a law sponsored by Leptines, which denied anyone a special exemption from paying public charges (leitourgiai). Leptines had proposed the law around the years 355-54 BC. Although the name of the speech highlights Leptines, the content focuses on the unconstitutional nature of the law, rather than the fact that Leptines was the one who proposed it. During the time of the speech, it was understood that enough time had passed in which Leptines was no longer in the legal limit to be held accountable for the passing of the law. For that reason, Leptines was not personally attacked in the speech. Rather, the speech exhibits peaceful, stylistic choices that were unique for the time because of the lack of personal attacks against Leptines.[1] Though Demosthenes wrote the speech for Ctesippus, the son of Chabrias, he delivered it himself.[2] It is thus the first speech which Demosthenes delivered in a public case.[3]
This law had been proposed by a man named Leptines, so the speech came to be known as "Against Leptines". The law was proposed as a way to tax Athenians like Ctesippus whose father was a General, making him exempt from liturgies. Due to the Social War Athens was experiencing an economic downturn, making liturgies essential.[4] Although Dio Chrysostom (31.128-9) says that Demosthenes won the case, his account has been dismissed as inaccurate. West says that "we do not know the verdict".[5]
An inscription shows that Ctesippus, son of Chabrias (whose inheritable exemption Demosthenes was arguing to preserve), performed a liturgy that "is unlikely to have been voluntary," and there is no evidence of any grants of exemption after the trial.[6]
Backgroundedit
During the Social War, a number of measures were passed in Athens to increase public revenue, including a law proposed by Leptines in 356 which abolished exemptions from liturgies. The law made it illegal both for the people of Athens to grant exceptions to liturgies, and for anybody to request an exception.[7] The law was challenged by an Athenian called Bathippus, but he died before the case came to court; later, this case was taken up by his son, Apsephion.[8] Apsephion proposed that Leptines' law should be repealed, and that it should be replaced by a law that provided for a procedure to remove an illegally-obtained exemption from liturgies. The case came to court in 355–54 BC.[9]
Referencesedit
^Martin, Gunther (September 2009). "7 Against Leptines (Or. 20)". Divine Talk. pp. 236–249. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199560226.003.0009. ISBN978-0199560226.
^West, William C. (1995). "The Decrees of Demosthenes' "Against Leptines"". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 107: 239.
^Dorjahn, Alfred P. (1955). "A Fourth Study on Demosthenes' Ability to Speak Extemporaneously". Classical Philology. 50 (3): 191. doi:10.1086/363916. S2CID 162195611.
^Martin, Gunther (2006). "Rhetorical Exercise or Political Pamphlet? Thomas Magistros' Exploitation of Demosthenes' 'Against Leptines'". Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies. 46: 208.
^West, William C. (1995). "The Decrees of Demosthenes' "Against Leptines"". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 107: 245.
^Ernst Badian. "The road to prominence," in Ian Worthington (ed.), Demosthenes: Statesman and Orator (Routledge, 2000), p. 28.
^Harris, Edward M. Demosthenes, Speeches 20–22. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 16.
^Harris, Edward M. Demosthenes, Speeches 20–22. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 16–17.
^Harris, Edward M. Demosthenes, Speeches 20–22. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 17.
External linksedit
Text of the speech at the Perseus Digital Library
This Ancient Greece related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
against, leptines, speech, given, demosthenes, which, called, repeal, sponsored, leptines, which, denied, anyone, special, exemption, from, paying, public, charges, leitourgiai, leptines, proposed, around, years, although, name, speech, highlights, leptines, c. Against Leptines was a speech given by Demosthenes in which he called for the repeal of a law sponsored by Leptines which denied anyone a special exemption from paying public charges leitourgiai Leptines had proposed the law around the years 355 54 BC Although the name of the speech highlights Leptines the content focuses on the unconstitutional nature of the law rather than the fact that Leptines was the one who proposed it During the time of the speech it was understood that enough time had passed in which Leptines was no longer in the legal limit to be held accountable for the passing of the law For that reason Leptines was not personally attacked in the speech Rather the speech exhibits peaceful stylistic choices that were unique for the time because of the lack of personal attacks against Leptines 1 Though Demosthenes wrote the speech for Ctesippus the son of Chabrias he delivered it himself 2 It is thus the first speech which Demosthenes delivered in a public case 3 Contents 1 History 2 Background 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThis law had been proposed by a man named Leptines so the speech came to be known as Against Leptines The law was proposed as a way to tax Athenians like Ctesippus whose father was a General making him exempt from liturgies Due to the Social War Athens was experiencing an economic downturn making liturgies essential 4 Although Dio Chrysostom 31 128 9 says that Demosthenes won the case his account has been dismissed as inaccurate West says that we do not know the verdict 5 An inscription shows that Ctesippus son of Chabrias whose inheritable exemption Demosthenes was arguing to preserve performed a liturgy that is unlikely to have been voluntary and there is no evidence of any grants of exemption after the trial 6 Background editDuring the Social War a number of measures were passed in Athens to increase public revenue including a law proposed by Leptines in 356 which abolished exemptions from liturgies The law made it illegal both for the people of Athens to grant exceptions to liturgies and for anybody to request an exception 7 The law was challenged by an Athenian called Bathippus but he died before the case came to court later this case was taken up by his son Apsephion 8 Apsephion proposed that Leptines law should be repealed and that it should be replaced by a law that provided for a procedure to remove an illegally obtained exemption from liturgies The case came to court in 355 54 BC 9 References edit Martin Gunther September 2009 7 Against Leptines Or 20 Divine Talk pp 236 249 doi 10 1093 acprof oso 9780199560226 003 0009 ISBN 978 0199560226 West William C 1995 The Decrees of Demosthenes Against Leptines Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 107 239 Dorjahn Alfred P 1955 A Fourth Study on Demosthenes Ability to Speak Extemporaneously Classical Philology 50 3 191 doi 10 1086 363916 S2CID 162195611 Martin Gunther 2006 Rhetorical Exercise or Political Pamphlet Thomas Magistros Exploitation of Demosthenes Against Leptines Greek Roman and Byzantine Studies 46 208 West William C 1995 The Decrees of Demosthenes Against Leptines Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 107 245 Ernst Badian The road to prominence in Ian Worthington ed Demosthenes Statesman and Orator Routledge 2000 p 28 Harris Edward M Demosthenes Speeches 20 22 Austin University of Texas Press p 16 Harris Edward M Demosthenes Speeches 20 22 Austin University of Texas Press pp 16 17 Harris Edward M Demosthenes Speeches 20 22 Austin University of Texas Press p 17 External links editText of the speech at the Perseus Digital Library nbsp This Ancient Greece related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Against Leptines amp oldid 1212141288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
