Some Functions of Rhetorical Questions in Lysias’ Forensic Orations

Abstract The rhetorical question, often assumed to have been favoured by the sophist Gorgias, became a fundamental feature of ancient rhetoric in both Greek and Latin. By time Senecan tragedy, an accumulation as many seventeen serial questions can be found expressing extremes emotion, especially indignation or despair. Rhetorical some archaic classical authors received limited attention, for example, Iliad those delivered Thersites exciting (2.225–233) authorial voice create pathos asking Patroclus about Trojans he has killed (16.692–693); string Aphrodite humorously asks Sappho 1; ritual queries Derveni Papyrus; series two three (often near beginning speeches) agōns tragedies. But increasing variety sophistication deployment question orators surprisingly neglected. This article analyses different uses which Lysias puts relation characterisation his orations argues that they represent considerable advance on practice any predecessor genre.