HY'PERI'DES (Lat., from Gk. "rirrati(isc, llypereWN1. An Athenian orator of the fourth century we., one of the ten comprised in the Alexandrian canon. After studying philosophy under Plato, and oratory under Isocrates, he be gan his public career as an advocate in the Athenian courts of justice, and joined the pa triotic party, at that time led by Demosthenes and Lyeurgus. He fitted out two triremes at his own expense for the Eubcean expedition of we. 358. In n.c. 338, when the disastrous fight of Chcronea laid Greece at the mercy of Philip, Ily perides proposed that the citizens should send their wives and children to places of security, and fight it out to the last. this desper ate advice was not taken, it.genuine patriotism was appreciated and rewarded by his countrymen. When the death of Philip revived the hopes of the anti-Macedonian faction, Hyperides promoted the alliance with Thebes, and after the destruc tion of that city by Alexander was one of the orators demanded of the Athenians by the Mace donian king. Alexander, however, did not press his demand, and Hyperides continued to oppose the Macedonian influence as strongly as ever. The arrival in Athens of Harpalus. the runaway treasurer of Alexander, then absent. on his East ern conquests, disturbed the friendly relation that had hitherto subsisted between Hyperides and Demosthenes, for in this celebrated ease Hy perides, as one of the few anti-idacedonians who were above suspicion, was chosen to prosecute his friend. (See DEMOSTIIENES.) In the Lamian
War, which followed the death of Alexander, Hy perides took a leading part, and he spoke the funeral oration over his countrymen who had per ished in battle. The year B.C. 322 saw the hopes of Athens finally crushed at the battle of Crannon. The chiefs of the patriotic party sought safety in flight. Hyperides was overtaken at A:gina and put to death. Tradition says that his tongue was torn out by his captors, or that he hit it out to avoid betraying his friends. As an orator Hy perides was ranked high by the ancients; it is said that some critics preferred him to Demosthenes. The 'grace' of his speeches was especially praised. The writer of the Lircs of the Ten Orators enu merates 75 speeches, of which 52 were consid ered genuine. Until recently these were known only in scanty fragments, but late in the last cen tury a number of papyri were discovered in Egypt which contain six speeches in a fairly complete state, including the famous funeral oration. This fully justifies the praise of the ancient critics, and may be ranked as one of the finest products of Greek oratory. A complete edition of the speeches and fragments has been published by Blass (Leipzig, 1894). The orations Against and Against Philippides have been edited, with an English translation, by Kenyon (London, 1893). Consult : lllass..1 ttisdle &Ted samkeit, iii (Leipzig, 1898) ; Jebb, Attic Orators, ii. (London, 1880).