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428? BC-348? BC
No author biography available.
Plato
Translated by I. (Ioannes) Zervos
A satirical dialogue written in the 4th century BC. This work stands out among Plato's dialogues due to its unique blend of irony directed at the orators of his time, particularly targeting the rhetorical style of prominent figures like Lysias and Isocrates. It engages with themes of public discourse, memorials, and the nature of rhetoric, and features the character Socrates conversing with Menexenus. The opening of ''Μενέξενοσ'' introduces a dialogue between Socrates and Menexenus, who is returning from a meeting at the boule (council). They discuss the upcoming selection of a speaker for a funeral oration in honor of Athenian soldiers who died in battle. Socrates expresses his views on the nature of eulogies, noting that speaking well is easier when praising one's own people, while Menexenus suggests the task may still be challenging due to its improvised nature. This sets the stage for a critique of rhetoric, juxtaposing genuine admiration for the fallen with the often hollow grandiloquence of oratory.
