Source edition
Lysias. Lamb, W.R.M., editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1930.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This oration is a court speech delivered in ancient Athens, where a member of the family of the famous general Nicias protests against the unjust confiscation of their property by the state and pleads for its preservation. The speaker begins by highlighting the loyalty and contributions of his family, noting how his uncle Nicias, his father Eucrates, and his cousin Niceratus sacrificed themselves for Athens and its democracy under the rule of the Thirty Tyrants. He then recalls the hardships faced by his uncle Diognetus, arguing that the proposed confiscation violates the civic harmony of Athens and the oaths of reconciliation previously sworn. Furthermore, he exposes the self-serving motives of the accusers and contrasts them with his family's selfless service to the city. Ultimately, the speaker appeals to the jurors' sense of justice, pleading for a lenient verdict that would protect their remaining property.