The Development of Rhetoric and Public Speaking in Ancient Athens

The much-refined art of public speaking, or rhetoric, in ancient Greece grew as a necessary skill alongside the evolution of law and democracy in fifth century BC Athens.

The ancient Greek historian Thucydides surmised that the fifth century was a golden age for Athens, largely due to the political brilliance of Pericles, who reigned from 461 to 429 BC and who Thucydides called “the first citizen of Athens.”

Building on the foundations of Draco and Solon, who worked to introduce courts, juries, and the tradition of law to Athens, Pericles installed a pure democracy and fair judicial system wherein poor citizens could also serve on juries. Moreover, he established a popular legislative assembly to annually review all laws and introduced the right for any Athenian citizen to propose or oppose a law during assembly.

Under Pericles, Athens became a cultural powerhouse in western civilization, and with it came the need for public speaking and the development of rhetoric.

The Development of Public Speaking and Rhetoric in Ancient Athens

In his book A Synoptic History of Classical Rhetoric, historian James Murphy claims that Pericles’ democracy brought about the need for people to be trained in public speaking. Greek assemblies debated laws annually, courtrooms rustled with litigation paperwork, and juries were filled with between five hundred to two thousand people, which made speaking at a public trial an important skill.

Murphy acknowledges that speaking at a legislative assembly in fifth century Athens demanded a highly developed and persuasive form of argument because it was generally issues of war and peace at stake.

He also states that Athenian citizens realized that their very future depended on their ability to speak persuasively. Public speaking became an Olympic event, the winner of which would be gifted an olive wreath and paraded through town. In this light, Athens became a city of words and the birthplace of rhetoric.

According to the American classical scholar George Kennedy, rhetoric played a significant role in both Greek and Roman life. He claims that the art played a central role in ancient education, with boys at around the age of fourteen being sent to special public speaking training schools. One particular philosopher became prominent in the teaching of rhetoric: Aristotle.

Aristotle cited four uses of rhetoric. First of all, through rhetoric, justice and truth can maintain their natural superiority, and it is also the case that it is suitable for popular audiences since scientific demonstration is more challenging to follow. Furthermore, rhetoric teaches us to see both sides of an argument and may also be used as a form of self-defense.

These principles remain foundational in debate today, and top debaters often rely on dialectical approaches to most effectively communicate their point.