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Divine talk: religious argumentation in Demosthenes

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Oxford classical monographPublication details: Oxford Oxford University Press 2009Description: ix, 345 p. ; 24 cmISBN:
  • 9780199560226
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 885.01 G8D4
Summary: Gunther Martin examines the references to religion in the speeches of Demosthenes and other Athenian orators in the 4th century BC. In Part I he demonstrates the role religion plays in the rhetorical strategy of speeches in political trials: his main argument is that speakers had to be consistent in their approach to religion throughout their career. It was not possible to change from being a pragmatic to a `religious' speaker and back, but it was possible, when writing for others, to use religion in a way one would not have used it when delivering a speech oneself. In Part II Martin deals with assembly speeches and speeches in private trials, in which religious references are far scarcer. In the assembly, unless genuinely religious matters are discussed, religion seems to have been practically inadmissible, while in private trials it is procedural elements that supply the majority of religious references. (http://www.oup.com)
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Item type Current library Collection Shelving location Call number Status Date due Barcode
Books Vikram Sarabhai Library Non-fiction General Stacks 885.01 G8D4 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available 169964

Gunther Martin examines the references to religion in the speeches of Demosthenes and other Athenian orators in the 4th century BC. In Part I he demonstrates the role religion plays in the rhetorical strategy of speeches in political trials: his main argument is that speakers had to be consistent in their approach to religion throughout their career. It was not possible to change from being a pragmatic to a `religious' speaker and back, but it was possible, when writing for others, to use religion in a way one would not have used it when delivering a speech oneself. In Part II Martin deals with assembly speeches and speeches in private trials, in which religious references are far scarcer. In the assembly, unless genuinely religious matters are discussed, religion seems to have been practically inadmissible, while in private trials it is procedural elements that supply the majority of religious references. (http://www.oup.com)

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