Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:139 (Jul 1878)
Article: Isocrates
Author: R. D. C. Robbins

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 401

Isocrates

Prof. R. D. C. Robbins

The Early Years Op Isocrates, And The Influences That Moulded His Character.

The birth of Isocrates, 436 B.C., was in the midst of the most brilliant period of the history of Athens. Eight years before, Pericles had acquired the sole direction of public affairs by the ostracism of Thucydides, the leader of the aristocratical party. At peace abroad and at home, he devoted himself to the planting of colonies dependent upon and tributary to the mother city, to the erection of magnificent and tasteful public buildings, the construction of other works, fitted to minister to the wants and contribute to the aggrandizement of Athens. The Parthenon. “the most perfect production of Grecian architecture,” of the purest Doric order, with the most exquisite refinement in details, executed under the direction of Phidias, had been completed a year or two before.

The drama, which took the precedence of the other arts in its origin and development, attained its highest perfection about this time. Aeschylus had died several years before, but Sophocles, between fifty and sixty years old, was just at the height of his popularity, and but a little past the meridian of his long life. Euripides, too, about twenty years younger, had a few years before gained the first tragic prize. It was

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 402

during Isocrates’ youth and early manhood that most of the plays of Euripides and Sophocles were exhibited. Aristophanes’ “Acharnians,” “Knights,” “Clouds,” “Wasps,” and “Peace” were brought out between 425-419 B.C., when Isocrates was from eleven to seventeen years old.

In philosophy Socrates, thirty-three years old, had doubtless begun to frequent the gymnasia and the public walks and the market-place, to converse with and exert an influence over all whom he might meet. Plato was born seven years later than Isocrates, and it is said was intimately associated with him as he came to years of maturity. The historian Herodotus was fifty-three years old and Thucydides forty at the birth of Isocrates. The orator Lysias, too, was then twenty-two years old.

Erchia, a deme, or borough, of Athens, the birth-place of Isocrates, was the same where Xenophon, nine years earlier, first saw the light. His father, Theodorus, was a maker of musical instruments, and seems to have carried on his trade successfully, as he is said to have had other artisans under him, and acquired sufficient wealth to cause his election as, and to enable him to perform the duties of, Aedile1 with benefit to the state.2 From the occupation of his father, A...