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PERICLES
495?-429 BC
Pericles was an influential and important leader of Athens during the Athenian
Golden Age, specifically, between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars,
descending from the Alcmaeonidae family. The period from 461 BC to 379 BC
is sometimes known as "The Age of Pericles". He was responsible for a great
many building projects which include most of the surviving structures on the
Acropolis (including the Parthenon). He also persuaded the city to build the
Long Walls that protected the four-mile route to Piraeus, the port for Athens. Of
particular importance, he fostered the power of democracy, which was a very
radical idea.
Pericles started his political career at an early age. At first, however, he restrained
his ambitions because he was fearful that due to his social standing, he would be
considered to be a tyrant or even dangerous for Greece. To get around this
problem, he promoted the interests of the demos -- the most numerous class of
middle and low income citizens -- so as to avoid their suspicion.
Pericles was educated by the sophist Daman, who taught him politics, by Zeno the
Eleatic who taught him argumentation, and by Anaxagoras who taught him nobility
of purpose and character.
Largely due to the teachings of Anaxagoras, Pericles was very careful of the way
in which he spoke, and what he chose to say.
Cimon was a political rival of Pericles for many years. Cimon was a wealthy man
who gained favour with the people by spending his own money on feeding, clothing
and caring for those Athenians who needed assistance. To counter Cimon,
Pericles spent public money in building projects. Pericles even was eventually able
to have Cimon ostracized and banished from the city for a period of time.
However, before his period of exile was up, Cimon returned to lead Athenians in
a battle against Sparta. Unfortunately, some friends of Pericles had Cimon sent
away and the battle went badly for the Athenians. At that point, Pericles was able
to look past his own ambitions, and recalled Cimon so that Athens might be
victorious.
Pericles then set about strengthening Athens and improving the infrastructure.
However, during his forty-year predominance, he was cautious and did not take on
opponents without first weighing his options and measuring his potential losses.
Unfortunately, his infatuation with a woman named Aspasia would slightly change
the way in which he initiated conflicts. According to Plutarch, Pericles was
persuaded by her to mount an expedition against one of her enemies.
Pericles is often referred to as the founder of democracy in Athens. However,
recent critical studies have cast doubt on this and describe the formation of
democracy as a slow process. The credit for creating the first democracy on earth
goes to social, political and economic circumstances which a single individual could
influence, but not create.
Pericles began to fall out of favour in Athens while still being able to maintain
power. The Spartans attacked and he ordered that Athens should prepare for a
siege. Unfortunately, during the siege, a plague spread through Athens and its
allies, but not to its enemies, killing many, including Pericles himself and most of his
family. However, after Pericles lost his last Athenian son, the Athenians allowed a
change in the law that made Pericles' non-Athenian son a citizen and legitimate
heir.
Unfortunately the information we have about Pericles is highly distorted by
centuries of legends and myth. The biography most people rely on is written by
Plutarch, who lived about 500 years after Pericles. Plutarch was more interested in
studying the character of men than in writing history. Pericles is also featured in
Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, which includes accounts of
several of Pericles' speeches.
The speeches of Pericles were not written down and preserved. However,
Thucydides in his history of the Peloponnesian War provides some idea of
Pericles' power as an orator.
The funeral oration that he has Pericles deliver in honor of the dead during the
first year of the Peloponnesian War is especially noble: "Of all cities Athens
alone is even greater than her fame."
She needs no poet to sing her praises; every land and every sea can furnish
proofs of her enterprise and success.
Her enemies when defeated are not disgraced; her subjects confess that she is
worthy to rule them." Of Athens' dead he says: "To men who fall as they have
fallen death is no evil."
Other Quotes
For the whole Earth is the Sepulchre of famous men; and their story is not
graven only on Stone over their native earth, but lives on far away, without
visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other men's lives.
Pericles on the eve of war. "Nor is it any longer possible for you to give up
this empire . . . Your empire is now like a tyranny: it may have been wrong to
take it; it is certainly dangerous to let it go."
But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is
before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet
it. -- Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War
Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to
defend it.
Future ages will wonder at us, as the present age wonders at us now.
If Athens shall appear great to you, consider then that her glories were
purchased by valiant men, and by men who learned their duty.
Instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling block in the way of action,
we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all.
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics
won't take an interest in you.
Make up your mind that happiness depends on being free, and freedom
depends on being courageous.
Time is the king of all men, he is their parent and their grave, and gives them
what he will and not what they crave.
Wait for that wisest of all counsellors, Time.