The four speeches included in the second volume of the public rhetorical works of Demosthenes from the "Ancient Writers" series by "Zitros" belong to the period of "apparent peace" (346-340) and reflect intense political ferment as well as the evolution of the orator's political persona.
In "On Peace," Demosthenes advocates for the preservation of the Philocrates treaty, arguing that its annulment at that moment is unprofitable and politically dangerous for the city. Demonstrating maturity, he defends a realistic political approach for the situation and urges his fellow citizens to calmly face an unfavorable circumstance, while being confident that the final confrontation between the two opponents is merely being postponed.
The Second Philippic inaugurates the second group of anti-Philip speeches by Demosthenes. Here, the orator, although starting from specific accusations by Philip against the Athenians, develops two main axes of his politics: he reveals the plans and motives behind Philip's increasingly threatening activities against Athens in southern Greece, while simultaneously launching a fierce attack against his internal opponents, primarily Aeschines, concerning the content and conditions of the treaty's conclusion.
"On Alonnisos" does not belong to Demosthenes but to his era, and was written by one of his political friends, likely Hegesippus, which is why it is included in the series of the orator's speeches. This speech provides us with information about the diplomatic activity of the time and the opportunity to compare Demosthenes' rhetoric with that of an ideologically similar figure.
"On the Cheronese" is one of Demosthenes' most beautiful speeches. Here, the orator manages to transform a specific issue (the recall of the general Diopethus from Thrace at Philip's request) into an overarching political problem. In the three expertly structured parts of the speech, the Thracian issue is developed, the political behavior of the Athenians is described with great psychological insight, and the stance of his political opponents is once again condemned, this time contrasted with the definition of the virtuous citizen, whose duty is to always advise what is best and in the interest, rather than what is pleasant and easy, a definition that skillfully reflects his own political behavior.
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