Hellenistic Oratory Continuity And Change
Journal Data
| Type | SOURCE_BOOK |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (GB) |
| ISBN-13 | 9780199654314 |
| Open Library | OL17574336W |
| Total publications | 15 |
| Coverage period | 2013 - 2013 |
| Language | EN |
| Cited by | 12 |
| h-index | 1 |
| i10-index | 1 |
"Hellenistic oratory remains an elusive subject as not one Greek speech has survived from the end of the fourth century BC until the beginning of the first century AD. This collection of fourteen interdisciplinary essays offers a wide-ranging study of the different ways in which Hellenistic oratory can be approached. Written by a team of leading scholars in the field, it examines the different kinds of evidence which shed light on the dynamic character of oratory during the Hellenistic period. All essays stress the pervasive influence of Hellenistic oratory and survey its different manifestations in diverse literary genres and socio-political contexts, especially the dialogue between the Greek oratorical tradition and the developing oratorical practices at Rome." --
Praise and Persuasion
This chapter maintains that the two Idylls under examination (11 and 17) suggest the ubiquitousness of rhetorical culture and Theocritus' mastery of rhetorical art. They presuppose knowledge of rhetorical theory. Nevertheless, the rhetorical strategies employed suggest that the poet goes beyond the ‘dictates’ of contemporary theory. These two Idylls toy with the expectations of the audience by exposing the failures of mere adherence to rhetorical…
Introduction
This introductory chapter explores a number of problems that have hindered scholarship in the field of Hellenistic oratory, namely the availability of evidence and the misplaced assumptions that once surrounded scholarly understanding of Hellenistic society. Yet advances in approaches to both topics mean that a new assessment of the nature, role, and impact of Hellenistic oratory is due. A preview of each chapter is also offered which simultaneou…
Oratory on the Stage in Republican Rome
Scholars have long noted the affinity between drama and oratory. Yet attempts to examine early Roman drama for the light it sheds on the development of rhetorical conventions and practice are few. Consequently, this chapter presents and analyses the evidence found in the fragments of early Roman Republican drama; at the same time, it compares and contrasts select passages with their Greek models. While a partial explanation for early drama's rhet…
The Art of Persuasion in Jason's Speeches
This chapter explores in depth the rhetorical strategies employed by Jason in Apollonius' epic poem, Argonautica, and identifies discontinuities between the rhetoric of Apollonius' epic and that of its Homeric prototype. A marked difference is the significantly reduced role of direct speech in the Argonautica, yet this helps to accentuate the significance of the occasions where oratio recta is used. The chapter argues that Jason's oratory reflect…
Afterword
This Afterword places the rest of the book within the wider scholarly context, provides a ‘bird's eye’ view of the chapters, and highlights some of the key contributions they make. In particular, it draws attention to the recent advances in scholarly understanding of the Hellenistic period and points out the timeliness of a specialized study into its oratory. At the same time, it adduces a further example of Hellenistic oratory in action: Lysimac…
Hellenistic Oratory at Rome
Oratory in Polybius’ Histories
This chapter explores the evidence for oratory in Polybius' Histories and stresses the prominent role given to speeches. It distinguishes three types of speeches current in Polybius' world: deliberative speeches addressed to assemblies and councils, pre-battle exhortations by a general to his troops, and ambassadors' speeches which reflect the vibrant diplomatic activity between Hellenistic poleis and federal states. Despite the comparative lack …
Spoken Words, Written Submissions, and Diplomatic Conventions
This chapter examines the epigraphic evidence for oral performances by envoys on diplomatic missions. It begins by considering two kinds of inscriptions: firstly, inscriptions recording speeches which delimit the oratorical task set before the ambassadors and the boundaries of their diplomatic brief; and, secondly, inscriptions recording the response to the oral performance by the ambassadors of the community they visited. The fact that we can ev…
Rhetorical Actors and Other Versatile Hellenistic Vocalists
This chapter examines a less well-known yet fascinating performed text, Herodas' Miniamb 2. This miniamb represents the speech of Battarus, a brothel-keeper, who brings a δίκη αίκείας against his rich opponent, Thales, accusing him of stealing one of his women. The chapter looks closely at the ways in which Battarus exploits the whole range of Classical oratorical tropes, conventions, and figures of speech in order to accentuate its burlesque of …
Rhetoric in (the other) Menander
This chapter focuses on Menander who straddles the Classical and Hellenistic periods. It argues that audiences in the Hellenistic period could not only recognize but also appreciate rhetorical forms and their subtle manipulation in Menander's plays. In examining a selection of his comedies, the chapter maintains that rhetorical ‘markers’, as used in formal contexts and as taught in the schools and handbooks, form an integral key to unlocking thei…
Paradoxon, Enargeia, Empathy
This chapter maintains that the narrations of Hellenistic decrees are a useful source for the oratory during this period. It emphasizes the cross-pollination of oratory, drama, and historiography, and between politics and theatre. Some of the decrees analyzed suggest that audiences in Hellenistic assemblies, even in the smaller cities, were as fascinated by the public performance of oratory as their Classical predecessors. The analysis of three a…
Stertinian Rhetoric
Hellenistic Oratory and the Evidence of Rhetorical Exercises1
The Embassy of the Three Philosophers to Rome in 155 bc1
This chapter examines the evidence for the embassy of the three philosophers — Carneades, Critolaus, and Diogenes, representing the Academic, Peripatetic, and Stoic traditions respectively — to Rome in 155 bc. The purpose of the envoy was to represent Athens in her negotiations with the Senate and the chapter discusses a range of arguments that they might have deployed to lead to a reduction in the fine imposed on the Athenians. Furthermore, by q…
Hellenistic Oratory
Hellenistic oratory remains an elusive subject as not one Greek speech has survived from the end of the fourth century bc until the beginning of the first century ad. This book offers a wide-ranging study of the different ways in which Hellenistic oratory can be approached. It examines the different kinds of evidence which shed light on the dynamic character of oratory during the Hellenistic period. All of the chapters stress the pervasive influe…
Hellenistic Oratory
Hellenistic oratory remains an elusive subject as not one Greek speech has survived from the end of the fourth century bc until the beginning of the first century ad. This book offers a wide-ranging study of the different ways in which Hellenistic oratory can be approached. It examines the different kinds of evidence which shed light on the dynamic character of oratory during the Hellenistic period. All of the chapters stress the pervasive influe…
Praise and Persuasion
This chapter maintains that the two Idylls under examination (11 and 17) suggest the ubiquitousness of rhetorical culture and Theocritus' mastery of rhetorical art. They presuppose knowledge of rhetorical theory. Nevertheless, the rhetorical strategies employed suggest that the poet goes beyond the ‘dictates’ of contemporary theory. These two Idylls toy with the expectations of the audience by exposing the failures of mere adherence to rhetorical…
Introduction
This introductory chapter explores a number of problems that have hindered scholarship in the field of Hellenistic oratory, namely the availability of evidence and the misplaced assumptions that once surrounded scholarly understanding of Hellenistic society. Yet advances in approaches to both topics mean that a new assessment of the nature, role, and impact of Hellenistic oratory is due. A preview of each chapter is also offered which simultaneou…
Oratory on the Stage in Republican Rome
Scholars have long noted the affinity between drama and oratory. Yet attempts to examine early Roman drama for the light it sheds on the development of rhetorical conventions and practice are few. Consequently, this chapter presents and analyses the evidence found in the fragments of early Roman Republican drama; at the same time, it compares and contrasts select passages with their Greek models. While a partial explanation for early drama's rhet…
The Art of Persuasion in Jason's Speeches
This chapter explores in depth the rhetorical strategies employed by Jason in Apollonius' epic poem, Argonautica, and identifies discontinuities between the rhetoric of Apollonius' epic and that of its Homeric prototype. A marked difference is the significantly reduced role of direct speech in the Argonautica, yet this helps to accentuate the significance of the occasions where oratio recta is used. The chapter argues that Jason's oratory reflect…
Afterword
This Afterword places the rest of the book within the wider scholarly context, provides a ‘bird's eye’ view of the chapters, and highlights some of the key contributions they make. In particular, it draws attention to the recent advances in scholarly understanding of the Hellenistic period and points out the timeliness of a specialized study into its oratory. At the same time, it adduces a further example of Hellenistic oratory in action: Lysimac…
Hellenistic Oratory at Rome
Oratory in Polybius’ Histories
This chapter explores the evidence for oratory in Polybius' Histories and stresses the prominent role given to speeches. It distinguishes three types of speeches current in Polybius' world: deliberative speeches addressed to assemblies and councils, pre-battle exhortations by a general to his troops, and ambassadors' speeches which reflect the vibrant diplomatic activity between Hellenistic poleis and federal states. Despite the comparative lack …
Spoken Words, Written Submissions, and Diplomatic Conventions
This chapter examines the epigraphic evidence for oral performances by envoys on diplomatic missions. It begins by considering two kinds of inscriptions: firstly, inscriptions recording speeches which delimit the oratorical task set before the ambassadors and the boundaries of their diplomatic brief; and, secondly, inscriptions recording the response to the oral performance by the ambassadors of the community they visited. The fact that we can ev…
Rhetorical Actors and Other Versatile Hellenistic Vocalists
This chapter examines a less well-known yet fascinating performed text, Herodas' Miniamb 2. This miniamb represents the speech of Battarus, a brothel-keeper, who brings a δίκη αίκείας against his rich opponent, Thales, accusing him of stealing one of his women. The chapter looks closely at the ways in which Battarus exploits the whole range of Classical oratorical tropes, conventions, and figures of speech in order to accentuate its burlesque of …
Rhetoric in (the other) Menander
This chapter focuses on Menander who straddles the Classical and Hellenistic periods. It argues that audiences in the Hellenistic period could not only recognize but also appreciate rhetorical forms and their subtle manipulation in Menander's plays. In examining a selection of his comedies, the chapter maintains that rhetorical ‘markers’, as used in formal contexts and as taught in the schools and handbooks, form an integral key to unlocking thei…
Paradoxon, Enargeia, Empathy
This chapter maintains that the narrations of Hellenistic decrees are a useful source for the oratory during this period. It emphasizes the cross-pollination of oratory, drama, and historiography, and between politics and theatre. Some of the decrees analyzed suggest that audiences in Hellenistic assemblies, even in the smaller cities, were as fascinated by the public performance of oratory as their Classical predecessors. The analysis of three a…
Stertinian Rhetoric
Hellenistic Oratory and the Evidence of Rhetorical Exercises1
The Embassy of the Three Philosophers to Rome in 155 bc1
This chapter examines the evidence for the embassy of the three philosophers — Carneades, Critolaus, and Diogenes, representing the Academic, Peripatetic, and Stoic traditions respectively — to Rome in 155 bc. The purpose of the envoy was to represent Athens in her negotiations with the Senate and the chapter discusses a range of arguments that they might have deployed to lead to a reduction in the fine imposed on the Athenians. Furthermore, by q…
Hellenistic Oratory
Hellenistic oratory remains an elusive subject as not one Greek speech has survived from the end of the fourth century bc until the beginning of the first century ad. This book offers a wide-ranging study of the different ways in which Hellenistic oratory can be approached. It examines the different kinds of evidence which shed light on the dynamic character of oratory during the Hellenistic period. All of the chapters stress the pervasive influe…