ТЕМА ПРЕДАТЕЛЬСТВА И ПАТРИОТИЗМА В РЕЧИ ЛИКУРГА «ПРОТИВ ЛЕОКРАТА»
BETRAYAL AND PATRIOTISM IN LYCURGUS’ SPEECH “AGAINST LEOCRATES”

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the theme of betrayal and patriotism in a speech of Lycurgus, an Athenian politician and orator of the fourth century B.C. This speech is dedicated to the charges against Leocrates, who fled from Athens faced with the threat of the enemy after the defeat of the Athenians by the Macedonian king Philip II at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C. Lycurgus accused Leocrates not only of unpatriotic behavior, but also of treason, which he interpreted as a betrayal of the gods and shrines, the general’s ancestors and relatives and his fellow citizens, who fought and died at the battle of Chaeronea. Throughout the speech, Leocrates’ betrayal is contrasted with the patriotism of his fellow citizens both at the time of the speech and in historical perspective; the fate that awaited the traitors of the past is shown. Thus, Lycurgus’ speech is an important illustration of how the orator’s contemporaries perceived betrayal and patriotism.

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