Source edition
Gorgias. Antiphontis orationes et fragmenta adiunctis Gorgiae, Antisthenis, Alcidamantis declamationibus. Blass, Friedrich, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1908.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a hypothetical forensic speech in which the Trojan War hero Palamedes defends himself against charges of treason brought by his rival Odysseus. Palamedes begins his speech by declaring his innocence and demonstrating that the accusation is groundless. In the middle section, he employs meticulous logic to prove that meeting with the enemy, exchanging money, or assisting them was physically impossible, and argues that he had absolutely no motive for betrayal. He then rigorously attacks his accuser, pointing out that the charges rely purely on conjecture and contain logical contradictions. Finally, Palamedes appeals to the jurors by reminding them of his contributions to Greece—such as the invention of writing and measures—and concludes by imploring them to deliver a verdict based on justice and facts rather than emotion.