Alcidamas: The Works & Fragments

Alcidamas is an important figure in the development of Greek rhetoric early in the fourth century BC. Pupil of Gorgias, rival of Isocrates, and teacher of Aeschines, he also influenced Demosthenes and was later admired by both Aristotle and Cicero. His extant works are "On Those who Write Written Speeches" (a treatise on the oratorical practice of improvisation on a well-prepared brief) and "Odysseus" (a pattern exercise in constructing a prosecution). Other fragments survive and all are presented in this edition, which translates them into English and provides a full commentary on the whole surviving oeuvre.