Ancient Greek literature is a vast and varied tradition of literature, spanning many genres and written in multiple languages, including Greek and Latin Ancient Greek literature includes some of the oldest works of literature in history, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Iliad. This literature has had a far-reaching influence on subsequent generations, particularly in the fields of drama, philosophy and science.
Ancient Greek literature encompasses a wide range of topics, including morality, ethics, love, family, politics, war, and religion. In addition to these topics, there were a variety of speeches and orations written in the form of epideictic speeches or rhetorical speeches. These speeches were usually written to persuade an audience of a particular argument or opinion.
Examples of ancient Greek literature speech orations include the following five works:
1. “Funeral Oration” by Pericles: This speech was given by Pericles at the end of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE, and is seen by many as one of the greatest examples of ancient Greek speech. Pericles praised the fallen Athenian soldiers for their bravery and loyalty, and reminded the citizens of Athens of the importance of their democracy, emphasizing the need to continue fighting for freedom.
2. “Areopagitica” by John Milton: This speech was written by Milton in 1644, and argued for the freedom of speech and expression in England. He argued for the protection of writers and their works, and argued for the censorship of only those works that were seen as immoral or indecent.
3. “On the Crown” by Demosthenes: This speech was given in 330 BCE during the Lamian War. In this speech, Demosthenes argued that the crown should be given to Alexander, the son of Philip II, instead of his half-brother Philip Arrhidaeus.
4. “The Athenian Constitution” by Aristotle: This speech was given sometime between 335-322 BCE, and is considered to be one of the most important works of ancient political philosophy. In this speech, Aristotle criticizes the Athenian democracy and proposes a new form of government based on the ideas of justice and equality.
5. “On the Peace” by Lysias: This speech was given in 392 BCE after the Peace of Nicias, and was written in defense of the Athenians who had voted in favor of the peace treaty. In this speech, Lysias argued that the treaty should be followed despite its unpopularity, as breaking it would bring dishonor to the city of Athens.