Aeschines

Aeschines (ĕ`skĭnēz), c.390–314? B.C., Athenian orator, rival of Demosthenes. Aeschines rose from humble circumstances and became powerful in politics because of his oratorical gifts. At first he opposed Philip II of Macedon, then later changed sides, arguing that resistance to Macedonian power was useless. Both he and Demosthenes were members of the embassy to Philip in 348 B.C., and afterward Demosthenes bitterly and baselessly accused Aeschines of accepting Macedonian bribes. He was to have been joined in his action by Timarchus, but Aeschines prevented this by his oration Against Timarchus (345 B.C.). Aeschines defended himself well in his oration On the False Legation (342 B.C.)—a title also used by Demosthenes in his accusatory oration. The trouble between the orators grew and culminated in a dispute over a gold crown that the orator Ctesiphon proposed should be given Demosthenes in 330 B.C. Aeschines brought suit with Against Ctesiphon. Demosthenes replied with his sturdy defense On the Crown. Aeschines lost and was fined, and retired to Asia Minor where, according to Plutarch, he lived as a professional Sophist.

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Aeschines

(born 390 BC—died c. 314 BC) Athenian orator. He and Demosthenes, who later became his bitter opponent, participated in 346 BC in forging a peace between Athens and Macedonia. Demosthenes later accused Aeschines of treason because he had promoted the Macedonian cause during the negotiations. At a trial (343) Aeschines was acquitted by a narrow majority. In 339 he helped incite the war that led to the Battle of Chaeronea and to Macedonian control of central Greece. In 336 he opposed as illegal a motion to honour Demosthenes; the matter came to trial in 330, and Aeschines suffered an overwhelming defeat.

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Aeschines 

Born circa 390 B.C.; died 314 B.C. Athenian political figure and orator. A leader of the supporters of Macedonia.

Along with Demosthenes, Aeschines was a member of the delegation that concluded the peace of Philocrates with Macedonia in 346 B.C.; the terms of the treaty were extremely harsh and disadvantageous for Athens. A bitter dispute arose between Demosthenes and Aeschines concerning the aims of the treaty, and Demosthenes charged Aeschines with treason. In 345 and 343, Aeschines defended himself against the charges; the first two of his three extant speeches are part of this defense.

After Macedonia had established hegemony over the Greek city-states, Aeschines in turn brought a number of serious charges against Demosthenes; the third of his extant speeches related to these charges. Demosthenes successfully defended himself, however, and Aeschines went into exile in order to avoid paying a heavy fine; he thereafter spent most of his time in Rhodes, where he taught rhetoric.

WORKS

Discours, vols. 1–2. Paris, 1927–28.
The Speeches of Aeschines. Cambridge, Mass., 1948.
In Russian translation:
“Grecheskie oratory.” Vestnik drevnei istorii, 1962, nos. 3–4.

REFERENCE

Ramming, G. Die politische Ziele und Wege des Aischines. Erlangen-Nuremburg, 1965. (Dissertation.)