Source edition
Hyperides. Minor Attic Orators, Vol. 2. Burtt, J. O., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1954 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a court oration by the Athenian orator Hypereides, prosecuting his political opponent Philippides for proposing an illegal decree. It fiercely denounces Philippides and his associates, who sycophantically fawned on foreign powers by exploiting Athens' misfortunes. The orator begins by arguing for the invalidity of an illegal honorary decree proposed for the assembly presidents. He then exposes Philippides' anti-democratic behavior and his past record of two previous convictions. Ultimately, the speech appeals to the jurors to show no mercy and to punish the defendant severely in order to safeguard the justice of the polis and the democratic constitution.