Demostene Per La Corona Pdf: A Classic Text on Political and Legal Argumentation (Download Now)
Demostene Per La Corona Pdf Download: A Guide to the Most Famous Speech of Ancient Greece
Demostene Per La Corona (or On the Crown) is a masterpiece of rhetoric and persuasion by the Athenian orator and statesman Demosthenes. It was delivered in 330 BC, in defense of Ctesiphon, who had proposed to award Demosthenes a golden crown for his services to the city. The speech is not only a brilliant example of eloquence and argumentation, but also a fascinating insight into the political and historical context of ancient Athens and its struggle against Macedonia.
Demostene Per La Corona Pdf Download
If you are interested in reading this classic text, you can download it for free in PDF format from various online sources. However, before you do that, you might want to learn more about the background and the content of the speech, as well as its significance and impact. In this article, we will provide you with a brief overview of Demostene Per La Corona and its main themes and points.
The Background of Demostene Per La Corona
Demosthenes was one of the most prominent and influential politicians of his time, and a fierce opponent of Philip II of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great. He advocated for the independence and democracy of Athens and other Greek states, and tried to form alliances against the Macedonian expansion. He was also a renowned orator, who composed and delivered many speeches on various occasions, both judicial and political.
One of his most famous speeches is Demostene Per La Corona, which he delivered in 330 BC, at the age of 54. The speech was part of a legal trial, in which Demosthenes' political rival Aeschines accused Ctesiphon of violating the law by proposing to award Demosthenes a golden crown for his services to the city. Aeschines argued that Demosthenes did not deserve such an honor, because he had failed to protect Athens from Macedonia and had caused many disasters and losses for the city.
Demosthenes responded by defending Ctesiphon and himself, and by attacking Aeschines for his role in the peace treaty with Macedonia and his corruption and treason. He also justified his political actions and decisions, and praised his own patriotism and courage. He claimed that he had always acted in the best interest of Athens and Greece, and that he had fought valiantly against the Macedonian threat. He argued that it was better to be defeated in a glorious struggle for freedom, than to surrender or compromise with the enemy.
The Content of Demostene Per La Corona
Demostene Per La Corona is divided into four main parts: introduction, narrative, proof, and conclusion. In each part, Demosthenes uses various rhetorical techniques and strategies to persuade his audience and refute his opponent.
In the introduction, Demosthenes appeals to the gods and to the jurors to listen to him fairly and impartially, according to the law. He also states that he will not only speak about the specific charge against Ctesiphon, but also about his entire political career and his achievements for Athens.
In the narrative, Demosthenes gives an overview of the condition of Greece when he entered politics, and describes the stages of his struggle against Philip. He focuses on the peace treaty of Philocrates (346 BC), which he opposed as unfavorable for Athens, and blames Aeschines for his role in negotiating and ratifying it. He also accuses Aeschines of being born from low-class parents, of being corrupt and traitorous, and of being responsible for the disaster of Chaeronea (338 BC), where Athens and its allies were defeated by Philip.
In the proof, Demosthenes deals with each of Aeschines' accusations
and tries to prove that they are false, unjust, or irrelevant. He shows that he did not violate any law or custom by receiving the crown, and that he deserved it for his merits and services. He also defends his financial accounts and his conduct during his public offices. He contrasts his own integrity and honesty with Aeschines' duplicity and malice.
In the conclusion, Demosthenes appeals to the emotions and the pride of the jurors, and reminds them of the glorious deeds and sacrifices of their ancestors for the sake of freedom and democracy. He also invokes the sympathy and gratitude of the people for his sufferings and dangers in their defense. He asks them to judge him not by his words, but by his deeds, and to honor him with the crown as a reward for his loyalty and courage.
The Significance and Impact of Demostene Per La Corona
Demostene Per La Corona is widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches of all time, and a masterpiece of ancient rhetoric. It showcases Demosthenes' skillful use of language, style, structure, argumentation, evidence, ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade his audience and achieve his purpose. It also reveals his personality, character, values, and vision as a leader and a patriot.
The speech also has a historical and political significance, as it reflects the situation and the challenges of Athens in the late fourth century BC, when it faced the rise and domination of Macedonia. It illustrates Demosthenes' political ideology and strategy, which aimed at preserving the independence and democracy of Athens and other Greek states, and at resisting the Macedonian hegemony. It also expresses Demosthenes' ideal of civic virtue and duty, which inspired him and many others to fight for their freedom and dignity.
The speech had a lasting impact on the history of rhetoric and literature, as it influenced many later orators and writers, both ancient and modern. It was admired and imitated by Cicero, Quintilian, Plutarch, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, and others. It was also studied and analyzed by many scholars and critics, who praised its artistic excellence and rhetorical effectiveness.
If you want to read this speech in its original language or in a modern translation, you can download it in PDF format from one of these sources:
Per la corona - Demostene testo greco integrale e traduzione
Sulla corona - Wikipedia
An Italian Commentary on the de Corona - Piero Treves: Demostene. L'Orazione per la Corona. Introduzione e Commento
The Analysis of Demostene Per La Corona
Demostene Per La Corona is a complex and sophisticated speech, that employs various rhetorical devices and strategies to achieve its persuasive goal. Some of the most important aspects of the speech are:
The structure: Demosthenes follows the conventional structure of a judicial speech, but he also adapts it to suit his specific case and purpose. He uses a long introduction (exordium) to gain the goodwill and attention of the jurors, and to anticipate some of his main arguments. He then gives a brief account of the facts (narratio), which he uses as a pretext to present a historical overview of his political career and his opposition to Macedonia. He then proceeds to the proof (probatio), where he refutes each of Aeschines' accusations in detail, and defends his own actions and merits. He concludes with an emotional appeal (peroratio), where he invokes the memory and the example of the ancestors, and asks for the crown as a reward for his loyalty and courage.
The style: Demosthenes uses a rich and varied style, that combines different levels of language, tone, and rhythm. He uses formal and elegant language when he speaks about himself and his achievements, but he also employs colloquial and vulgar expressions when he attacks Aeschines and his character. He uses a calm and moderate tone when he presents his arguments and evidence, but he also resorts to a passionate and emotional tone when he appeals to the feelings and the values of the jurors. He uses a balanced and harmonious rhythm when he speaks about general principles and ideals, but he also adopts a rapid and abrupt rhythm when he exposes the crimes and the faults of Aeschines.
The argumentation: Demosthenes uses various types of arguments, both logical and ethical, to persuade his audience and to refute his opponent. He uses deductive arguments (enthymemes), where he draws conclusions from general premises or common opinions. He also uses inductive arguments (examples), where he cites historical or contemporary cases that support his claims. He also uses ethical arguments (ethos), where he establishes his own credibility and authority as a speaker, and undermines that of Aeschines. He also uses emotional arguments (pathos), where he arouses the emotions and the passions of the jurors, such as anger, pity, fear, or pride.
Demosthenes also employs various rhetorical techniques and figures of speech, such as:
Questions (erotema), where he asks rhetorical questions that imply their own answers, or that challenge Aeschines or the jurors.
Repetition (anaphora), where he repeats words or phrases at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, for emphasis or contrast.
Antithesis (antitheton), where he contrasts opposite words or ideas, to highlight their differences or contradictions.
Irony (eironeia), where he says something that implies its opposite, to mock or ridicule Aeschines or his arguments.
Metaphor (metaphora), where he compares one thing to another, to create vivid images or associations.
These are just some examples of the rhetorical devices and strategies that Demosthenes uses in his speech. A more detailed analysis would require a close examination of each part and section of the speech, as well as a comparison with other speeches by Demosthenes or other orators.
Conclusion
Demostene Per La Corona is a remarkable speech that deserves to be read and studied by anyone interested in rhetoric, politics, history, or literature. It is not only a powerful defense of Ctesiphon and Demosthenes himself, but also a passionate expression of Demosthenes' political vision and ideals. It is also a testimony of the greatness and the tragedy of Athens in the late fourth century BC, when it faced the challenge and the threat of Macedonia.
If you want to download this speech in PDF format, you can use one of these links:
Per la corona - Demostene testo greco integrale e traduzione
Sulla corona - Wikipedia
An Italian Commentary on the de Corona - Piero Treves: Demostene. L'Orazione per la Corona. Introduzione e Commento
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