"On the Peace" () is one of the most famous political orations of the prominent

Athenian Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

statesman and orator

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; ; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide insight into the politics and cu ...

. It was delivered in 346 BC and constitutes a political intervention of Demosthenes in favor of the

Peace of Philocrates Peace of Philocrates is the name of the peace treaty concluded in 346 BCE between Athens and Macedon under Philip II. Philocrates was the name of the main Athenian negotiator of the Treaty. Background Athens and Macedon had been at war since ...

Historical background

Just after the conclusion of the

Philip II of Macedon Philip II of Macedon (; 382 BC – October 336 BC) was the king (''basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...

passed

Thermopylae Thermopylae (; ; Ancient: , Katharevousa: ; ; "hot gates") is a narrow pass and modern town in Lamia (city), Lamia, Phthiotis, Greece. It derives its name from its Mineral spring, hot sulphur springs."Thermopylae" in: S. Hornblower & A. Spaw ...

, and subdued

Phocis Phocis (; ; ) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gu ...

,Demosthenes,''On the Crown''
36
which was not helped by Athens.Demosthenes, ''On the Peace''
10
Supported by Thebes and

Thessaly Thessaly ( ; ; ancient Aeolic Greek#Thessalian, Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic regions of Greece, geographic and modern administrative regions of Greece, administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient Thessaly, a ...

,Demosthenes, ''On the Crown''
43
Macedon took control of Phocis' votes in the Amphictyonic League. The Athenians had not been present at the council meeting that had voted for Philip's election into the council. However, Philip thought it proper to send letters to the states that had not been present, inviting them to assemble at

Delphi Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), was an ancient sacred precinct and the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient Classical antiquity, classical world. The A ...

so that they could ratify his election. Athens, among others, received the invitation. The invitation raised much ferment in the Athenian assembly, with many members indignant and opposed to Philips' election into the council. Yet, despite some strong and continuing opposition,Demosthenes, ''On the False Embassy''
111-113
Athens finally legitimised Philip's entrance into the Council of the League. Demosthenes was among those who recommended this stance in his oration ''On the Peace''.

The speech

The real subject of the oration is not peace, but the legitimation of Philip's participation in the Amphictyonic League. Ecclesia convened in order to take the final decision and Demosthenes was among those who expressed their opinion. He first argues that the current situation is unpleasant for the Athenians because of their own negligence (par. 1-3). He then refers to previous misjudgments of his countrymen (4-12) and asserts that Athens must avoid a war that would unify against it all the Greek cities (13-14) He argues that, if they do not recognize the new ''status quo'' in the Council of the League, they will cause a rift with the other members of the League (18-19). In order to convince ecclesia, he reminds his countrymen of the fact that in the past Philip had efficiently exploited Thebes' and

's interests, in order to use them for his own purposes. He is thus capable of repeating such a plot (20-23). Finally, the orator enumerates Athens' sacrifices for the sake of peace and argues that it would be unintelligent to break the peace because of the incident in

. Nonetheless, he underscores that they must not accept any further concession to Philip (24-25). According t
A. W.Pickard
the Assembly were persuaded to give way. To have refused would have brought the united forces of the Amphictyonic States against Athens: and those they could not have resisted. It was therefore prudent to keep the peace, though Demosthenes evidently regarded it only as an armistice. A. Galinos regards Demosthenes' oration as model of the art of diplomacy and emphasizes on the pain and the psychological pressure Demosthenes must have suffered, arguing in favor of Philip's demands.A. Galinos, ''Comments on Demosthenes'', 330.

References

External links

*Preface and translation of the oration b

Text of the speech at the Perseus Digital Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:On The Peace Speeches by Demosthenes 346 BC