When was Demosthenes born and where did he grow up?
Demosthenes was born in 384 BC in the deme of Paeania. He grew up as an orphan under the care of three guardians named Aphobus, Demophon, and Therippides after losing both parents by age seven.
Questions about Demosthenes
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What speech impairment did Demosthenes overcome to become a great orator?
Demosthenes suffered from rhotacism which caused him to mispronounce the letter R as L and produce indistinct utterances. He overcame this condition through rigorous practice including speaking with pebbles in his mouth and shaving one half of his head while practicing in an underground study.
Why did Demosthenes fight against King Philip II of Macedon?
Demosthenes fought against King Philip II because Philip seized Amphipolis in 357 BC and threatened Athens with military aggression. The orator warned that dismissing Philip as unimportant was dangerous since he posed a threat comparable to the king of Persia.
How did Demosthenes die and on what date did his death occur?
Demosthenes died by suicide in 322 BC after taking poison out of a reed to avoid capture by Archias. His death occurred following the Lamian War when Antipater demanded Athenians turn over anti-Macedonian agitators for execution.
Which ancient authors praised Demosthenes for his oratory skills?
Ancient authors such as Cicero, Plutarch, Longinus, Caecilius, Juvenal, and Thomas Wilson praised Demosthenes for his eloquence and style. Cicero claimed Demosthenes represented the final stage in Attic prose development while others regarded his work as sublime or a fountain of genius.