BÉRTOLLNOK, AGYAFÚRT KERESKEDŐ, ÉS AMI A LEGFŐBB, EGYIPTOMI!
"PEN-PUSHER, CUNNING TRADER AND, WHAT IS MORE, AN EGYPTIAN!"

Author(s): László Horváth
Subject(s): Greek Literature, Rhetoric
Published by: Scientia Kiadó
Keywords: Hypereides; Athenogenes-speech; Athenian democracy;
Summary/Abstract: A close reading of the argumentative structure of Hypereides' Athenogenes-speech reveals that the traditional idealising vision of the Athenian democracy and of Athens is overshadowed by xenophobic and intolerant feelings of its citizens. The elevated and liberal ideas of an antique "open society" (as expressed by Thukydides in the Periclean funeral-speech) could vanish immediately in the daily life of the city. Hypereides' speech clearly confirms that the worst prejudices against foreigners were deeply rooted in the citizens, which could easily bestirred up any time by the orators. Since the speaker cannot rely on solid juristic foundation (as his task was to annul a valid, undersigned contract), in order to influence his audience, Hypereides produces an impressive list of irrelevant laws, then he launches a bitter invective against Athenogenes (mainly targeted on his Egyptian origin) and finally, he amuses the jurors (his well-trained fellow-spectators of comedy) with cleverly chosen comic reminiscences.

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