Question 1

True or false: Demosthenes’ political speeches warning against Philip II of Macedon are called the Philippics.

Accepted Answer

True. His fiery Philippics urged Athenians to resist Philip’s expansion, later inspiring Cicero.

Question 2

True or false: Demosthenes was a famous general who led Athens to victory in the Peloponnesian War.

Accepted Answer

False. He was an orator, not a general; the Peloponnesian War ended before his birth.

Question 3

True or false: Demosthenes was a close friend and ally of Alexander the Great.

Accepted Answer

False. He opposed Alexander’s father Philip and later was hunted by Alexander’s successors.

Question 4

True or false: Demosthenes overcame a speech impediment by practicing with pebbles in his mouth.

Accepted Answer

True. Legend says he put pebbles in his mouth to improve his diction, though this may be embellished.

Question 5

True or false: Demosthenes died peacefully in his sleep at an old age.

Accepted Answer

False. He committed suicide by poison to avoid capture by Macedonian agents in 322 BC.

Question 6

True or false: Demosthenes invented the concept of a political filibuster in ancient Athens.

Accepted Answer

False. Filibusters are a modern parliamentary tactic; Demosthenes used long speeches but no such term existed.

Question 7

True or false: Demosthenes copied Thucydides’ history eight times by hand to master Greek prose.

Accepted Answer

True. He reportedly transcribed Thucydides’ work to learn style and argumentation, though some doubt the tale.

Question 8

True or false: Demosthenes once fled a battle, dropping his shield, which was a major disgrace in Athens.

Accepted Answer

True. At the Battle of Chaeronea, he reportedly fled, earning lifelong mockery from rivals.

Demosthenes Trivia Questions