Isaeus (c. 420–350 BC)

One of the ten Attic Orators, born probably at Chalcis in Euboea. Having studied under Lysias he became ‘logographos’, a writer of forensic speeches for delivery by others, and in 366 he helped Demosthenes in the latter's prosecution of his guardians. Eleven speeches of Isaeus have survived intact, together with a large fragment of another. All of them deal directly or indirectly with questions of inheritance; Isaeus is the principal authority on this area of Athenian law.