This is the first in a two-volume edition of Greek orators. </p>

Antiphon of Athens, born in 480 <span class="era">BCE</span>, spent his prime in the great period of Athens but, disliking democracy, was himself an ardent oligarch who with others set up a violent short-lived oligarchy in 411. The restored democracy executed him for treason. He had been a writer of speeches for other people involved in litigation. Of the fifteen surviving works three concern real murder cases. The others are exercises in speech-craft consisting of three tetralogies, each tetralogy comprising four skeleton speeches: accuser's; defendant's; accuser's reply; defendant's counter-reply.</p>

Andocides of Athens, born ca. 440 <span class="era">BCE</span>, disliked the extremes of both democracy and oligarchy. Involved in religious scandal in 415 <span class="era">BCE</span>, he went into exile. After at least two efforts to return, he did so under the amnesty of 403. In 399 he was acquitted on a charge of profaning the Mysteries and in 391-390 took part in an abortive peace embassy to Sparta. Extant speeches are: 'On His Return' (a plea on his second attempt); 'On the Mysteries' (a selfdefence); 'On the Peace with Sparta'. The speech 'Against Alcibiades' (the notorious politician) is suspect.</p>