Demosthenes, The Funeral Speech, Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator), 5

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[5] In my view also the fact that the fruits of the earth by which men live were first manifest among us,¹ even apart from their being a superlative boon to all men, constitutes an acknowledged proof that this land is the mother of our ancestors. For all things that bring forth young produce at the same time nutriment out of the organism itself² for those that are born. This very thing has been done by this land.³

The Funeral Speech. Demosthenes. Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator). London. 1949.

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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

The Funeral Speech (English) (Demosthenes, Vol. VII: Funeral Speech, Erotic Essay, LX, LXI, Exordia and Letters. DeWitt, Norman W. and Norman J., translators. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1949 (printing).)

Editions (1)

ἐπιτάφιος Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. III. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.) — 5 focus

[5] δοκεῖ δέ μοι καὶ τὸ τοὺς καρπούς, οἷς ζῶσιν ἅνθρωποι, παρʼ ἡμῖν πρώτοις φανῆναι, χωρὶς τοῦ μέγιστον εὐεργέτημʼ εἰς πάντας γενέσθαι, ὁμολογούμενον σημεῖον ὑπάρχειν τοῦ μητέρα τὴν χώραν εἶναι τῶν ἡμετέρων προγόνων. πάντα γὰρ τὰ τίκτονθʼ ἅμα καὶ τροφὴν τοῖς γιγνομένοις ἀπʼ αὐτῆς τῆς φύσεως φέρει· ὅπερ ἥδʼ ἡ χώρα πεποίηκεν.

Notes on the current edition

The Funeral Speech

1. According to tradition the olive was created by the goddess Athena, while the culture of grain, especially wheat and barley, was established by Demeter, whose mysteries were celebrated at Eleusis close to Athens.

2. Or, by a law of nature herself.

3. This topic is treated in more detail in Plat. Menex. 237e-238b .

Demosthenes The Funeral Speech 5

Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator)

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