ABSTRACT
The funeral orations on the Despoina Cleope and Empress Helen, composed in 1433 and 1450, are undoubtedly quite unusual examples of George Gemistos’ rhetorical abilities. Gemistos had already made his name as a philosopher so perhaps he was even expected to do this, especially in the case of the second oration when he was possibly invited to repeat the success of the previous speech, composed almost 20 years earlier. In On Cleope Gemistos reminds the audience that the Despoina was from Italy, which in ancient times was occupied by the Romans who managed to conquer almost all the inhabited world. Gemistos supports his reasoning further by a rather peculiar argument concerning suicide. Non-rational animals do not kill themselves deliberately, but there are some people who do. In general, there is nothing that would desire its own destruction. Gemistos then praises the virtues of Helen, mentioning especially her intelligence, nobleness, temperance and justice.
