View source for Dinarchus

{{Short description|4th-century BC Greek speechwriter}}
'''Dinarchus''' or '''Dinarch''' ({{langx|el|Δείναρχος}}; [[Corinth]], c. 361&nbsp;– c. 291 BC) was a [[Logographer (legal)|logographer]] (speechwriter) in Ancient Greece. He was the last of the ten [[Attic orators]] included in the "Alexandrian Canon" compiled by [[Aristophanes of Byzantium]] and [[Aristarchus of Samothrace]] in the third century BC.

==Life==
A son of Sostratus (or, according to the ''[[Suda]]'', Socrates), Dinarchus settled at [[Athens]] early in life, and when not more than twenty-five was already active as a [[logographer (legal)|logographer]]—a writer of speeches for the law courts. As a [[metic]], he was unable to take part in the debates. He had been the pupil both of [[Theophrastus]] and of [[Demetrius Phalereus]], and had early acquired a certain fluency and versatility of style.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Dinarchus |volume=8 |pages=274-275}}</ref>

In 324 the [[Areopagus]], after inquiry, reported that nine men had taken bribes from [[Harpalus]], the fugitive treasurer of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]. Ten public prosecutors were appointed. Dinarchus wrote, for one or more of these prosecutors, the three speeches which are still extant: ''Against Demosthenes'', ''Against Aristogeiton'', and ''Against Philocles''.<ref name="EB1911"/>

The sympathies of Dinarchus were in favor of an Athenian [[oligarchy]] under [[Macedon]]ian control; but it should be remembered that he was not an Athenian citizen. [[Aeschines]] and [[Demades]] had no such excuse. In the Harpalus affair, [[Demosthenes]] as well as the others accused, were probably innocent. Yet [[Hypereides]], the most fiery of the patriots, was on the same side as Dinarchus.<ref name="EB1911"/>

Under the regency of his old master, Demetrius Phalereus, Dinarchus exercised much political influence. The years 317–307 were the most prosperous of his life. On the fall of Demetrius Phalereus and the restoration of the democracy by [[Demetrius Poliorcetes]], Dinarchus was condemned to death and withdrew into exile at [[Chalcis]] in [[Euboea]].<ref name="EB1911"/>

About 292, thanks to his friend Theophrastus, he was able to return to Attica, and took up his abode in the country with a former associate, Proxenus. He afterwards brought an action against Proxenus on the ground that he had robbed him of some money and plate. Dinarchus died at Athens about 291.<ref name="EB1911"/>

==Surviving speeches==
According to the ''Suda'', Dinarchus wrote 160 speeches; and Dionysius held that, out of 85 extant speeches bearing his name, 58 were genuine: 28 relating to public, 30 to private causes. The surviving speeches mentioned above are:
* ''[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0082&query=head%3D%231 Against Demosthenes]''
* ''[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.01.0082%3aspeech%3d2 Against Aristogiton]''
* ''[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.01.0082%3aspeech%3d3 Against Philocles]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/L395.html ''Minor Attic Orators, II, Lycurgus. Dinarchus. Demades. Hyperides''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001920/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/L395.html |date=2009-12-12 }}, trans. J. O. Burtt, [[Harvard University Press]], Loeb Classical Library, 1954.
* [http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/wordin.html ''Dinarchus, Hyperides, & Lycurgus''], trans. Ian Worthington, Craig Cooper, and Edward M. Harris, University of Texas Press, 2001.

{{Attic orators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{EB1911 article with no significant updates}}

[[Category:Attic orators]]
[[Category:Ancient Corinthians]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Greek people]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Greek people]]
[[Category:Metics in Classical Athens]]
[[Category:Hellenistic Athens]]
[[Category:360s BC births]]
[[Category:290s BC deaths]]