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Son of Theodoros the aulos-maker; Athenian, orator, born during the 86th Olympiad, which is [to say] after the Peloponnesian War.[1] And on account of the lack of vigor of his voice and his lack of outspokenness he did not deliver [sc. speeches in] lawsuits,[2] but he taught many [people], and he wrote 32 speeches. He died at the age of 106.[3] His brothers were Tisippos and Theomnestos and Theodoros. His teacher [was] Gorgias, but some say Tisias, others Erginos,[4] others Prodikos, others Theramenes. His speeches are numerous.

*)isokra/ths, *qeodw/rou au)lopoiou=, *)aqhnai=os, r(h/twr, geno/menos e)pi\ th=s p#2# o)lumpia/dos, o(/ e)sti meta\ ta\ *peloponnhsiaka/. kai\ dia\ me\n th=s fwnh=s th\n a)toni/an kai\ to\ a)parrhsi/aston di/kas ou)k ei)=pen, e)di/dace de\ plei/stous, kai\ lo/gous ge/graye lb#: biw/sas de\ e)/th #2# pro\s toi=s r# e)teleu/thsen. a)delfoi\ de\ au)tw=| e)ge/nonto *ti/sippos kai\ *qeo/mnhstos kai\ *qeo/dwros: dida/skalos de\ *gorgi/as, oi( de\ *tisi/an fasi/n, oi( de\ *)ergi=non: oi( de\ *pro/dikon e)/fasan, oi( de\ *qhrame/nhn. oi( de\ lo/goi au)tou= plei=stoi.

OCD(4) s.v. Isocrates.
[1] The 86th Olympiad covers the years 436/5 to 433/2, so 'after the Peloponnesian War' (of 431-404) is incorrect. For the phrase justifiably used, see under theta 93 and theta 385.
[2] Isocrates himself referred several times to this defect and its consequences (e.g. 5.81, 12.9-10, Letters 7.7); and see also [Plutarch], Lives of the Ten Orators 838E.
[3] He died in 338, so this figure is too large.
[4] D. Ruhnken emended this to "Archinos".

David Whitehead (added headword and bibliography; augmented note; cosmetics; raised status) on 23 October 2000@06:45:38.
David Whitehead (added keywords; cosmetics) on 28 February 2003@09:32:56.
David Whitehead (augmented notes, at the prompting of Claude Desplanques; another keyword) on 12 February 2008@04:58:11.
David Whitehead (more keywords; tweaking) on 15 January 2013@07:59:09.
David Whitehead (typo, spotted by Ron Allen) on 2 June 2013@04:07:23.
David Whitehead (updated a ref) on 4 August 2014@03:58:47.
David Whitehead (coding) on 27 April 2016@07:10:51.

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