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 funeral oration that mourns the untimely death of a young man named Eteoneus and praises his short life and noble character. The orator begins by extolling Eteoneus's distinguished lineage and excellent parents, as well as his extraordinary disposition, which combined the innocence of a child with the wisdom of an elder. The speech then reflects on his dedicated pursuit of learning, offering a poignant lamentation for his premature passing. However, in the latter half of the oration, a divine voice (deus ex machina) intervenes, transforming the grief of the mourners into praise. Through this divine pronouncement, it is revealed that the youth who died young should not be pitied, but rather celebrated as one who lives in eternal glory like the heroes favored by Apollo, concluding with an exhortation to cease grieving and instead honor him as a hero.