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 work is a courtroom oration delivered in an Athenian court by a speaker seeking to clear his family of the suspicion of embezzling or concealing the confiscated property of their late relative, Aristophanes. The speaker begins by pleading with the jurors to listen to the arguments without prejudice and highlights his late father's immense contributions to the polis. He then details how Aristophanes, motivated by public honor, spent his entire fortune on military expeditions and public liturgies, which explains why the confiscated estate was smaller than expected. To counter the allegations of hidden wealth, the speaker cites prominent historical figures like Conon and Alcibiades to demonstrate how public estimates of private fortunes are consistently exaggerated and unreliable. Finally, he presents his family's long record of financial and personal service to Athens, arguing that preserving their estate to serve the state is far more beneficial to the public interest than its confiscation, and appeals for a just acquittal.