A son of Sostratus (or, according to the
Suda, Socrates), Dinarchus settled at
Athens early in life, and when not more than twenty-five was already active as a
logographer—a writer of speeches for the law courts. As a
metic, he was unable to take part in the debates. He had been the pupil both of
Theophrastus and of
Demetrius Phalereus, and had early acquired a certain fluency and versatility of style. In 324 the
Areopagus, after inquiry, reported that nine men had taken bribes from
Harpalus, the fugitive treasurer of
Alexander. Ten public prosecutors were appointed. Dinarchus wrote, for one or more of these prosecutors, the three speeches which are still extant:
Against Demosthenes,
Against Aristogeiton, and
Against Philocles. The sympathies of Dinarchus were in favor of an Athenian
oligarchy under
Macedonian control; but it should be remembered that he was not an Athenian citizen.
Aeschines and
Demades had no such excuse. In the Harpalus affair,
Demosthenes as well as the others accused, were probably innocent. Yet
Hypereides, the most fiery of the patriots, was on the same side as Dinarchus. Under the regency of his old master, Demetrius Phalereus, Dinarchus exercised much political influence. The years 317–307 were the most prosperous of his life. On the fall of Demetrius Phalereus and the restoration of the democracy by
Demetrius Poliorcetes, Dinarchus was condemned to death and withdrew into exile at
Chalcis in
Euboea. About 292, thanks to his friend Theophrastus, he was able to return to Attica, and took up his abode in the country with a former associate, Proxenus. He afterwards brought an action against Proxenus on the ground that he had robbed him of some money and plate. Dinarchus died at Athens about 291. ==Surviving speeches==