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 forensic oration delivered during the scrutiny (dokimasia) of Philon, aiming to disqualify him from becoming a member of the Council in ancient Athens. The speaker begins by denouncing Philon's insolence in applying for the office, explaining that the accusation is driven by a public oath, and highlights Philon's disloyalty in prioritizing his own safety during a national crisis. The orator then reveals that during the city's hardship, Philon fled to Oropus to live as a resident alien, thereby completely abandoning his civic duties despite having the capacity to fulfill them. Furthermore, the speech exposes Philon's personal cruelty, including his plundering of elderly and poor countryside citizens, and his own mother's deep distrust of him, which led her to entrust her burial to a stranger. Addressing the defense's claim that no written law forbade his absence, the speaker argues that the offense was too heinous to have been anticipated by legislators, and strongly urges the Council to reject Philon's candidacy.