Aeschines of Athens Aeschines (c. 390–c. 322 BCE) was an Athenian orator and a major political figure, renowned as the lifelong rival of Demosthenes [1]. Born to a schoolteacher father and a priestess mother, he served as a soldier and worked as an actor and scribe before his public career [1][2]. His pro-Macedonian stance, advocating peace with Philip II, positioned him against Demosthenes’ faction [1][3]. He served on the Athenian boule and as an envoy to Delphi [1]. His career culminated in his legal defeat by Demosthenes in 330 BCE in the case Against Ctesiphon, which resulted in his exile [1][2][3]. He later taught rhetoric on Rhodes [1][2].

Works Three authentic judicial speeches survive: Against Timarchus (345 BCE), On the Embassy (343 BCE), and Against Ctesiphon (330 BCE) [1]. A collection of letters is considered spurious [1].

Significance As one of the ten canonical Attic orators, Aeschines provides the essential pro-Macedonian counterpoint to Demosthenes [1][3]. His speeches are valuable historical sources for Athenian law, political rhetoric, social norms, and the diplomatic conflicts preceding Macedonian dominance [1][2].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aeschines 2. Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0002 3. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Aeschines/