The case was brought about in 346–345 BC, in response to Timarchus, along with Demosthenes, bringing a suit against Aeschines, accusing him of misconduct as an ambassador to Philip II of Macedon.
[1] The speech provides evidence of a number of actions which, according to Aeschines, would cause a citizen to lose the right of addressing the Assembly.
[8] Because Aeschines attacks Timarchus' moral character in response to political allegations made against him, the speech is classified as an example of an ad hominem argument.
[9] Passwater clarifies that sex work in general is not the basis for the ad hominem, since pederasty was a socially accepted practice of the upper class.
[9] Instead, the accusation implies sex work in exchange for money, and purchased by men of a lower class than political officials, rather than sex work in exchange for mentorship and access to a political education as in pederasty.