David D. Phillips, with K. Kapparis, edition of March 27, 2003
page 6 of 12
· Isaeus ·
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Aristotle (Aristot. Ath. Pol.).
Isaeus (Isaeus 1).
Isaeus (Isaeus 11).
Isaeus (Isaeus 12).
Plot on a Map
Chalcidice (in text as “Chalcidian”).
Isaeus son of Diagoras (ca. 420-post 344/3) is one of the least well-known Attic orators. The ancients themselves could not agree on whether he was Athenian or Chalcidian by birth. A student of Isocrates, he worked as a speechwriter and also taught the art of rhetoric; his most famous student was Demosthenes. Isaeus’ specialty was inheritance law, a difficult and fruitful area of litigation even by Athenian standards ([Arist.] Ath. Pol. 9.2). The eleven speeches of Isaeus which survive entire (1-11) are all concerned, directly or indirectly, with inheritance disputes; the speech “For Euphiletus” (12) deals with the restoration of citizenship. (See also Oratory.)
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page 6 of 12