Olynthiacs

The Olynthiacs were a series of three speeches delivered by the Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes in 349–348 BCE. These speeches urged Athens to provide military aid to the city of Olynthus in its conflict with Philip II of Macedon. Olynthus, a prominent city on the Chalcidice Peninsula, had initially allied with Philip but later shifted its allegiance to Athens out of fear of his growing power. Despite Demosthenes's impassioned pleas, Athens failed to send adequate support, and Philip ultimately destroyed Olynthus in 348 BCE. The Olynthiacs are considered significant examples of Demosthenes's rhetorical skill and his efforts to rally Greek resistance against Macedonian expansion.12