HYPERIDES, hi-per-i'dez, an Athenian orator: b. about 390; d. about 322 B.C. He studied philosophy and oratory, and began to practise at the law courts. His prosecutions of Autocles, an Athenian general, for treason; of Aristophon during the "Social War" (358 355 s.c.), and of Philocrates for high treason (343 B.c.), distinguished him as one of the leading public speakers of the time. His polit ical sympathies led him to support Demosthenes (q.v.) and the democratic party. In the bitter struggle against Macedon, Hyperides equipped two triremes, and throughout was untiring in his patriotic zeal. When Demosthenes was ac cused of having been bribed by Harpalus, the treasurer of Alexander, the loyalty of Hyperi des to his leader, long strained, snapped. He was chosen to lead the prosecution, and when the punishment of exile was inflicted on the head of the patriotic party, Hyperides was the choice of the people to fill his place. In the Lamian War against Antipater and Craterus, Hyperides was a conspicuous figure. His career came to an inglorious close at the deci sive defeat at Crannon; and he was condemned to death with the other leading orators of Athens. His efforts at flight were unsuccess
ful. He was overtaken by the agents of Anti pater and killed. As an orator, Hyperides was fluent, subtle and popular. He had the power of rendering his speeches simply and tactfully. and with a certain attractive grace and assur ance that carried his audience invariably. Of the large number of speeches which have been attributed to Hyperides, about 50 are consid ered authentic. Research of the last century has brought to light a number of fragments, some of appreciable length. The funeral ora tion over the Athenians who had fallen in the Lamian War was unearthed at Thebes in Egypt. The speeches Phillippides' and Athenogenes' were edited by F. G. Kenyon (London 1893). There is a complete edition of all the literary remains of Hyperides with an ample bibliography, under the title orationes sex cum ceterarum f rag mends' (Leipzig 1894). Consult Jebb, R. C., (Attic Orators' (Vol. II, London 1880) • Blass, 'Attische (Vol. III, Leipzig 1898).