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 classic Greek funeral oration (epitaphios logos) delivered to honor the general Leosthenes and the Athenian soldiers who lost their lives fighting against Macedonia in the Lamian War. The speech begins by praising the enduring achievements of Athens and the noble lineage of the fallen. Rather than dwelling on their upbringing, the orator focuses on the exceptional courage of the soldiers on the battlefield and the outstanding military leadership of General Leosthenes. It highlights how their sacrifices in battles such as those in Boeotia and Thermopylae saved Greece from the harsh fate of Macedonian domination, asserting that autonomy is the very foundation of happiness. Finally, the orator depicts the deceased being welcomed in Hades by mythological heroes and historic liberators, offering comfort to the grieving families by emphasizing that their death is not a tragedy, but the birth of immortal glory.