LIBANIUS’ DECLAMATIONS

Abstract

The fourth-century Libanian declamations under study are among those that name specific individuals rather than generic types. Nine of the ten declamations are translated into a modern language for the first time. In the declamations, ten individuals are impersonated, six from myth and four from history: Menelaus and Odysseus (Decls 3 and 4), who plead with the Trojans to return Helen and avert war; Achilles (Decl. 5), responding to Odysseus seeking a Greek reconciliation at Troy; Orestes (Decl. 6), defending himself for killing his mother; Poseidon and Ares (Decls 7 and 8), who alternately prosecute and defend the slaying of Poseidon’s son; Cimon (Decl. 11), who urges the Athenians to release his imprisoned father Miltiades; a Corinthian (Decl. 13), charging the Athenians with impiety for forcing besieged Potidaeans to practise cannibalism; Callaeschrus (Decl. 14), arguing that his reward for tyrannicide should be permission to bury the tyrant – his son; and Spartan Archidamus (Decl. 24), who defends his right to speak publicly despite his youth. Libanian authenticity is considered very doubtful to spurious for Decl. 6 ps.-Libanius and doubtful for Decl. 24 (?) Libanius. In a general introduction details of the life and work of Libanius situate the declamations in ‘the traditional literary-rhetorical education’ (p. 3), which is perhaps to say, in what fostered the community of Hellenes. ‘Declamation was one (important) way by which the Greek past was kept alive in the Roman East, whether to help empower the Greek elite over the masses, or as a way of generally instilling pride in Greeks ruled by Rome’ (p. 7). Debate itself, even as imaginative as here, is a legacy of Greek civic and intellectual life. There is a question as to whether a declamation originated in a school context or before a general audience (p. 4). Declamations may be deliberative, advocating a course of action, or judicial, either accusatory or defensive (p. 5). There are factual premises of the case (hypotheseis); a preliminary explanatory comment; proem, narration, proof, which may include the refutation of stated or anticipated arguments of the other side (antitheseis), and epilogue. Stasis is the central argumentative issue (p. 6). In separate introductions the mythological and the historical declamations are set in their literary or historical contexts, and structural aspects are discussed. For instance, the mythological Declamations 3 and 4 are deliberative in their attempt to convince the Trojans to avert the war, but they are also accusatory of Alexander [Paris], whom the virtuous Trojans must recognise as a single bad apple (p. 13, wryly paraphrasing 3.3). There is a list of ten antitheseis, including the Greek dismissal of the Trojan objection that Alexander should be praised for wanting a woman as outstanding as Helen: ‘not at Menelaus’s expense’ (p. 14, at 4.75–7). The antitheseis are employed mostly by Odysseus in his longer oration, which Libanius understands as a stylistic alternative to that of Menelaus (p. 12). The moral issues are Alexander’s violation of guest-friendship and Greek restraint in the use of force against the Trojans. In the mythological Declamation 5 Achilles narrates his own achievements until his withdrawal from combat. Self-praise may be rhetorically necessary, or it may be offensive. There is likely to be disagreement on whether the Libanian Achilles is ultimately ‘a reluctant self-praiser or is using the occasion to indulge an innate arrogance’ (p. 18). Achilles responds to seven antitheseis, including that he is not following his father THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 370