Allies and Foes (II)

Chapter 27 considers some prominent Athenian politicians who were contemporaries of Demosthenes but whose speeches have not survived. In fourth-century Athens, a professionalization of politics took shape: the politically active, the so-called rhêtores, were a rather small group of wealthy citizens who often took the initiative of promoting laws and decrees, initiated legal proceedings against rivals, and were armed with the adequate rhetorical skills to convince the dêmos in the Assembly or with specific expertise in the financial field. The political activity of Athenian politicians and the composition and orientation of the respective groups are often subject to conflicting interpretations. The chapter takes a look at some of these politicians, including Eubulus and his allies, Diophantus, Androtion, Aristophon and his allies, other allies of Demosthenes, and politicians in the period after Chaeronea.