THE FIRST PHILIPPIC
§ 3. the war with Sparta. Probably the Boeotian War (378-371 B.C.), when Athens supported Thebes against Sparta.
in defence of the right. The attempt of the Spartans to conquer Boeotia was a violation of the Peace of Antalcidas (see n. on Speech for Rhodians, § 6). But Demosthenes' expression may be quite general in its meaning.
§ 4. tribes. Probably refers especially to the Thracians (see Introd. to the Speech). The Paeonian and Illyrian chieftains also made alliance with Athens in 356.
§ 17. to Euboea. See Speech for Megalopolitans, § 14 n.
to Haliartus: in 395, when Athens sent a force to aid the Thebans against the Spartans under Lysander. (For other allusions see Introd. to the Speech.)
§ 19. paper-armies ([Greek: epistolimaious … dynameis]): lit. 'armies existing in dispatches.'
§ 24. Athens once maintained, &c. The reference is to the Corinthian war of 394-387 B.C. The Athenian general Iphicrates organized a mercenary force of peltasts in support of Corinth, and did great damage to Sparta; he was succeeded in the command by Chabrias. Nothing more is certainly known of Polystratus than is told us here, though he may be referred to in the Speech against Leptines, § 84, as receiving honours from Athens.
to Artabazus. In 356 Chares was sent to oppose the revolted allies of Athens, but being short of funds, assisted Artabazus in his rebellion against Persia, and was richly rewarded. (See Introd. to Speech on Naval Boards.)
§ 25. spectators of these mysteries of generalship ([Greek: epoptai t_on ] [Greek: *_strat_egoumen_on_]). The word [Greek: _epopt_es_] is chiefly used of spectators of the mysteries, and is here applied sarcastically to the citizens whom Demosthenes desires to see what has hitherto been a hidden thing from them—the conduct of their generals.
§ 26. ten captains and generals, &c. There was one general ([Greek: _strat_egos_]) and one captain ([Greek: taxiarchos]) of infantry, and one general of cavalry ([Greek: phylarchos]), for each of the ten tribes. There were two regular masters of the horse ([Greek: hipparchoi]), and a third appointed for the special command of the Athenian troops in Lemnos. The generals ([Greek: _strat_egoi_]) had various civil duties, among them the organization of the military processions at the Panathenaea and other great festivals.
§ 27. Menelaus. Either a Macedonian chieftain, who had assisted the Athenian commander Timotheus against Poteidaea in 364, and probably received Athenian citizenship; or else Philip's half-brother Menelaus. But there is no evidence that the latter ever served in the Athenian forces, and probably the former is meant.
§ 31. Etesian winds. These blow strongly from the north over the Aegean from July to September.
§ 33. the whole force in its entirety. So with Butcher's punctuation. But it is perhaps better to place a comma after [Greek: dynamin], and translate, 'after making ready … soldiers, ships, cavalry—the entire force complete—you bind them,' &c.
§ 34. See Introd. to the Speech. Geraestus was the southernmost most point of Euboea. The 'sacred trireme', the Paralus, when conveying the Athenian deputation to the Festival of Delos, put in on its way at Marathon, where there was an altar of the Delian Apollo, to offer sacrifice.
§ 35. The festival of the Panathenaea was managed by the Athlothetae, who were appointed by lot, and consequently could not be specially qualified; whereas the stewards ([Greek: _epimel_etai_]) who assisted the Archon in the management of the Dionysia, were at this time elected, presumably on the ground of their fitness.
an amount of trouble ([Greek: ochlon]). Possibly 'a larger crowd'. But there is no point in mentioning the crowd; the point lies in the pains taken; and Thucyd. vi. 24 ([Greek: _upo tou ochl_odous t_es parhaskeu_es_]) confirms the rendering given.
§ 36. The choregus paid the expenses of a chorus at the Dionysiac (and certain other) festivals. The gymnasiarchs, or stewards of the games, managed the games and torch-races which formed part of the Panathenaea and many other festivals. The offices were imposed by law upon men who possessed a certain estate, but any one who felt that another could bear the burden better might challenge him either to perform the duty or to exchange property with him. (See Appendix to Goodwin's edition of Demosthenes' Speech against Meidias.)
independent freedmen: lit. 'dwellers apart,' i.e. freedmen who no longer lived with the master whose slaves they had been.
§ 43. empty ships. If these are the ships referred to in Olynth. III, Section 4, the date of the First Philippic must be later than October 351 B.C.
§ 46. promises. The 'promises of Chares' became almost proverbial.
§ 47. examination, or 'audit'. A general, like every other responsible official, had to report his proceedings, at the end of his term of office, to a Board of Auditors, and might be prosecuted before a jury by any one who was dissatisfied with his report.
§ 48. negotiating with Sparta, &c. As a matter of fact, Philip had evidently come to an understanding with Thebes by this time; but he may have caused some such rumours to be spread, in order to get rid of any possible opposition from Sparta. The 'breaking-up of the free states' probably refers to the desire of Sparta to destroy Megalopolis, which was in alliance with Thebes.
sent ambassadors to the king. Arrian, ii. 14, mentions a letter of Darius to Alexander, recalling how Philip had been in friendship and alliance with Artaxerxes Ochus. It is possible, therefore, that the rumour to which Demosthenes alludes had some foundation.