A Commentary on Demosthenes' Philippic I

Philippic I, delivered between 351 B.C. - 350 B.C., was the first speech by a prominent politician against the growing power of Philip II of Macedon. Along with the other Philippics of Demosthenes, it is arguably one of the finest deliberative speeches from antiquity. The present volume provides the first commentary in English on the Philippics since 1907 and promises to encourage more study of this essential Greek orator. Aiming his commentary at advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate students, Cecil Wooten addresses rhetorical and stylistic matters, historical background, and grammatical problems. In addition to a full commentary on Philippic I, this volume includes essays that outline Philippics II and III, set them in their historical context, and emphasize the differences between these later speeches and the first.