According to the Greek historian Plutarch, Demosthenes( was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators. He delivered his first judicial speeches at the age of 20, in which he argued effectively to gain from his guardians what was left of his inheritance. For a time, Demosthenes made his living as a professional speech-writer (logographer) and a lawyer, writing speeches for use in private legal suits. was not always great at public speaking, and the first time he gave a speech in public the crowd laughed at him and his friends discouraged him from continuing down this path. But after receiving some encouragement from a family friend and actor, he took practicing his oratory skills very seriously, to the point where he would practice speaking with stones in his mouth and even retreat to an underground practice room every day. It is said he would stay there for months at a time, and he shaved one side of his head to prevent himself from leaving from fear of being mocked.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:00:47 +0000
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