Pericles

Pericles (c. 495-429 bc), Athenian statesman, whose importance in the history of Athens is so great that the period of his rule is often called the Age of Pericles.

His father was the army commander Xanthippus, victor over the Persians at Mycale in 479 bc. Pericles was particularly influenced by his two teachers, the Athenian Sophist and master of music Damon (fl. 5th century bc) and the Ionian philosopher Anaxagoras. Throughout his life Pericles was conspicuous for his dignity and aloofness, but his eloquence, sagacity, uprightness, and patriotism won recognition from most Athenians. Among his friends were the dramatist Sophocles, the historian Herodotus, the sculptor Phidias, and the Sophist Protagoras; his mistress was the former courtesan Aspasia, a highly cultivated woman.

In Athenian politics Pericles sought to enable all citizens to participate in government. Payment of citizens for their services to the state was introduced, and members of the council were chosen by lot from the entire body of Athenians. He was instrumental in strengthening and extending the Athenian empire. Under the Delian League, established as a defence against renewed aggression from Persia, the Athenians became a great naval power and embraced, as equal or subject allies, nearly all the larger islands of the Aegean Sea and many cities to the north. When the aristocratic leader Cimon, who favoured friendship with Sparta, was ostracized (banished) in 461 bc, Pericles became the undisputed leader of Athens for the next 15 years. He elevated Athens at the expense of the subject city-states. With the great wealth that came into the treasury, Pericles restored the temples destroyed by the Persians and built many new structures, the most splendid of which was the Parthenon on the Acropolis. This building programme provided employment for the poorer citizens and made Athens the most magnificent city of the ancient world.

Under Pericles' leadership Athens became a great centre of literature and art. Its supremacy aroused the jealousy of the other Greek city-states, especially of Sparta, long the bitter rival of Athens. The cities feared the imperialistic schemes of Pericles and sought to overthrow Athenian domination. After the Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 bc Pericles summoned the country residents of Attica within the walls of Athens and allowed the Peloponnesian army to ravage the country districts. The following year a plague broke out in the overcrowded city, shattering Athenian confidence. Pericles was deposed from office, tried, and fined for misuse of public funds, but he was re-elected in 429. He died of plague soon after.