Source edition
Aristides. Vol. 1. Dindorf, Wilhelm, editor. Leipzig: Reimer, 1829.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a celebratory oration delivered to mark the birthday and the public coming-of-age of a noble youth named Apellas. The orator begins by praising the youth's birth, his high reputation both at home and abroad, and his pure lineage tracing back to the legendary Athenian king Codrus. He then highlights the achievements of the youth's immediate ancestors, his father Fronto and grandfather Apellas, noting that the god Asclepius, who once protected the grandfather, continues to guide the grandson. Furthermore, the orator extols the young man's virtues—such as gentleness, spirit, and persuasiveness—and references Platonic educational theory to suggest that his childhood play prefigures his future role as a judge. Finally, the speech concludes with a hopeful prayer to the gods for the family's continued prosperity and the permanent protection of the realm, celebrating the youth's transition into public life.