What do you think?
Rate this book
The Murder of Herodes & Other Trials from the Athenian Law Courts
These remarkable documents of Greek social and cultural history include masterpieces of lively narrative and subtle argument prepared by such orators as Lysias, Antiphon, and Demosthenes. The fifteen cases presented represent the first recorded instances of the working of a democratic jury system under a definite code of law aimed at inexpensive and equal justice for all citizens. Issues examined include murder, assault, property damage, embezzlement, contested legacies, illegal marriage, slander, and civil rights. Also provided are comprehensive background chapters on the professions of law and rhetoric in ancient Athens and explanatory notes clarifying the course of each trial .
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 9, 2024
This 1960s translation might get scoffed at by today’s translation standards that to me seem to value a kind of sterile, surgical precision. This book is a gem as the translation adds a vibrancy and life to ancient Athens through the arguments from criminal trials.
In the same way that murder podcasts give you a sense of what it was like to be there on the scene, or what the city where the crime happened feels like, these trials and speech excerpts really gave me a feeling of what it was like to be in Athens - in little snippets or descriptions or accounts that we get through this very vibrant and energetic translation.
I learned that the barbershop and the cobbler were two places that ancient Athenians regularly visited out of need due to the importance of long evening walks and kept beards to signify social status. It was there that one could ask questions and investigate as Athens had no police or detectives. One had to bring one’s charges to the court oneself.
The commentary that Freeman offers after each trial or speech is illuminating not just about Athenian culture, but about the arguments and rules of Athenian courts. There’s a lot to unpack. The variety of her selection covers all the legal matters that could come up for an Athenian near the end of the democratic era.
If you like murder podcasts, this is a great book. It really hits that same vibe via both translation and historical context, both of which Freeman really masters.
In the same way that murder podcasts give you a sense of what it was like to be there on the scene, or what the city where the crime happened feels like, these trials and speech excerpts really gave me a feeling of what it was like to be in Athens - in little snippets or descriptions or accounts that we get through this very vibrant and energetic translation.
I learned that the barbershop and the cobbler were two places that ancient Athenians regularly visited out of need due to the importance of long evening walks and kept beards to signify social status. It was there that one could ask questions and investigate as Athens had no police or detectives. One had to bring one’s charges to the court oneself.
The commentary that Freeman offers after each trial or speech is illuminating not just about Athenian culture, but about the arguments and rules of Athenian courts. There’s a lot to unpack. The variety of her selection covers all the legal matters that could come up for an Athenian near the end of the democratic era.
If you like murder podcasts, this is a great book. It really hits that same vibe via both translation and historical context, both of which Freeman really masters.
March 4, 2024
Informative and an interesting read but oftentimes I found myself struggling to get through some of the speeches
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews