The Greek prose writer Lysias is a fascinating source for the study of Athenian law, society and history in the late fifth century BC. Six of his professional legal speeches are selected in this new edition, both for their intrinsic interest and because the language is accessible even to the compara[...]

This text is a commentary in the original Greek, with an introductory essay, notes, a complete vocabulary and an introduction to how to use the resources in the Perseus Digital Library. The speeches in this text show the best and worst of Classical Athens, from tawdry affairs aired in the law courts[...]

Lysias (ca. 458-ca. 380 BCE), born at Athens, son of a wealthy Syracusan settled in Attica, lived in Peiraeus, where with his brother he inherited his father's shield factory. Being a loyal supporter of democracy, Lysias took the side of the democrats at Athens against the Thirty Tyrants in 404, sup[...]