Athenian Pederasty Questions
1. From the introduction of the speech and the first few sections you should be able to piece to-
gether the scenario prompting Aeschines’ speech. What did he hope to achieve? Note carefully
that this speech succeeded!
2. Aeschines’ mentions in sections 7–8 the supposedly moral reason for the laws upon which he
will base his argument. Do you find his statement shocking? Is there an absolute morality by
which we can judge them?
3. What are there laws against teachers? What do they seek to prevent?
4. What do you suppose the “outrage” in sections 15–17 might be?
5. What was the legal basis of Aeschines’ charge against Timarchus?
6. What offenses does Aeschines catalog in sections 37–xx?
7. What is the distinction between the phrases “to do” and “to have done” in section 41? It’s
important!
8. Why the notice that Misgolas was not a friend of his father’s in section 42?
9. BIG QUESTION: read very carefully the passages from section 132 onwards. What does
Aeschines admit about himself? How does that affect your interpretation of Timarchus’
behavior?
Final question: how much do you thing the institution of pederasty would affect the influence of
Athenian women over their husbands? Over their sons?
