Plutarch Themistocles

Text Access

The Rise and Fall of Athens. Translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert. Marmondsworth, Middlesex and New York: Penguin Books, 1960

SWAs, Class Debate

RESOLVED: Periclean democracy was democratic in fact as well as in name.

In-class debate; use the Plutarch Pericles and Thucydides readings as principal evidence. That's to prepare you to argue either side of the question. Thus, for your SWA,

Prepare arguments both PRO and CONTRA the claim that "Periclean democracy was democratic in fact as well as in name."

Three teams will be chosen by lot: pro, contra, judges. Judges will choose winners on the basis of CRITICAL THINKING and overall persuasiveness. I intend to bring prizes. So this is serious!

Who was Pericles?

  • Lived ca. 495-429 BCE
  • Aristocrat
  • Son of Xanthippus (Greek commander against the Persians)
  • Statesman, supporter — author, even (perhaps) — of the radical democracy at Athens
    He seems to have been prostatēs tou dēmou (unofficial "leader of the popular assembly" plus "protector of the people") nearly without break from about the time of Ephialtes' death (461) until his own death (429).
  • General
  • The office of general — the stratēgia — was by Pericles' time largely of an administrative nature (though still military too). Pericles held the stratēgia for a full 15 years or so, viz. from ca. 444-429 BCE (the year of his death).

Themes, Issues

Peithō: Sleuth out peithō as an issue or theme in the life and career of Pericles (as presented in Plutarch's biography of him)

How — and how well — does he go about persuading Athenians? What are his tools of control?

  • Verbal?
  • Nonverbal?

How does he deal with opponents and enemies (and how do they deal with him)?

  • Cimon?
  • Thucydides son of Melesias? (Not the historian!)

What policies does he tend promote, both at home and abroad?

In what ways is he dēmotikos, a supporter of radical democracy at Athens?

In what ways might he seem to be something other than dēmotikos? Does he ever resemble — or is he ever depicted as — a tyrant?

Who is Aspasia? What role doe she seem play in his life?

  • Personal?
  • Other?

ascholtz@binghamton.edu
© Andrew Scholtz | Last modified 15 October, 2025