Pericles and the Alcmeonides. Board of pericles Election of officers

PERIKLES(c. 490-429 BC), Athenian strategist (commander-in-chief) in 444/443-429 (except 430), leader of a democratic group. The legislative measures of Pericles (the abolition of the property qualification, the replacement of voting by lots in the provision of positions, the introduction of payment to officials, etc.) contributed to the flourishing of Athenian democracy. Construction initiator (Parthenon, Propylaea, Odeon). Strived to strengthen the Delian League; leader of a number of military campaigns during the Peloponnesian War. Died of the plague.

PERIKLES (Perikles) (about 490, Athens - 429 BC, ibid.), Ancient Greek politician and commander.

Born into an aristocratic family that has long belonged to the ruling elite of Athens. His father Xanthippus distinguished himself in the Greco-Persian Wars, and especially in the landing operation at Cape Mycale (479), where he commanded the Athenian fleet.

An excellent education, a rare gift of eloquence, wealth and great connections - all this foreshadowed Pericles a successful political career, but at first he shied away from participating in public affairs. However, the situation that developed in Athens at the end of the 50s of the 5th century forced him to enter politics and act as a spokesman for the interests of broad democratic strata.

From 443 to 429, Pericles stood at the head of the Athenian state, showing himself as an outstanding reformer, diplomat and commander. Under him, monetary payments were introduced to citizens for the fulfillment of their public duties (participation in legal proceedings as a jury, attending the theater during state festivities, holding various positions, serving in the army and navy). Such an order allowed any citizen, regardless of his financial situation, to enjoy all political rights, including the occupation of higher magistracies. Now everyone could come up with his own proposal or legislative initiative in the national assembly, which decided all issues.

Pericles did a lot to strengthen the Athenian maritime alliance and establish control over the most important trade routes in the Aegean. Policies allied to the Athenians found themselves in a subordinate position; Athens established strict military, administrative and financial control over them. Colonies of Athenian citizens (cleruchia) were brought to the best lands of some allied policies. More than 10 thousand people settled in them, having received allotments. Pericles took care of maintaining the power of a numerous fleet that ensured the military-strategic and economic interests of Athens in the basin of the Aegean and Black Seas.

Spending large amounts of money on the implementation of large-scale urban projects, Pericles tried to turn his native city into the main center of the cultural and artistic life of Hellas (see Acropolis in Athens).

The strengthening of the power of Athens caused more and more fears among the Spartans and other members of the Peloponnesian Union. The intervention of the Athenians in 433 in the conflict between Corinth and Corinth, an ally of Sparta, became a pretext for war. Attempts to resolve interstate disputes through negotiations were unsuccessful, and in 431, with the invasion of the Peloponnesians, hostilities began in Attica.

Athens was subjected to a long siege, and its surroundings were devastated. Forced because of the superiority in ground forces among the Peloponnesians to confine themselves to the positional defense of the city, Pericles organized sabotage into the far rear of the enemy. Due to the dissatisfaction of fellow citizens with the current situation, he began to lose influence, but then managed to restore his former position (429). However, he soon became a victim of the plague that raged in Athens.

Pericles, an ancient Greek political figure, the head of the Athenian state in the period of its highest prosperity. A representative of an ancient aristocratic family, Pericles, thanks to his oratorical gift and ability to compromise, managed to gain the support of the majority of the inhabitants of Athens and for many years ruled this first of the Greek cities.

In his youth, Pericles was a supporter of the democrat Ephialtes, who proposed to limit the power of the aristocracy concentrated in the Areopagus. After the death of Ephialtes, he led the most numerous Athenian party.

Having achieved the expulsion of the leader of the aristocrats Cimon, Pericles began to play a major role in Athenian politics, and after defeating another rival, Thucydides, he headed the Athenian state in the position of strategist, to which he was re-elected 15 times. The secret of his success with fellow citizens was the abolition of the property qualification when elected to public office.

Pericles introduced a daily pay for public service, making it affordable for poor citizens. Insisting on strengthening the power of the Athenian Maritime Union, Pericles showed the Athenians its advantageous side: with the funds collected from the allies, he built a new magnificent Acropolis with the Parthenon temple, as well as the “Long Walls” between the city and the port of Piraeus, which turned Athens into an impregnable fortress. Not only architects and artists, but all people who worked on construction, received a generous reward. Pericles decided to consider citizens only those whose both parents were natives of Athens. By this, the strategist proved his disinterestedness: after all, his beloved wife, the beautiful Aspasia, was from Miletus, therefore their children could not obtain citizenship.

Pericles created settlements of Athenian citizens in the allied cities, conquered and strengthened the colonies of the possessions of Athens on the Black Sea and in southern Italy. Having made peace with Persia and Sparta, the strategist considered the hegemony of Athens unshakable. So did his enemies from among his fellow countrymen, who brought harsh accusations against the friends of Pericles: Phidias, Anaxagoras, and others. Aspasia was not only ridiculed in comedies, but brought to trial for immorality and disrespect for the gods.

In 431 BC. e. The Spartans entered Attica and locked the Athenians in their stronghold. A plague began in the city, the popularity of Pericles fell catastrophically, he was not elected a strategist and accused of embezzlement. The next year, having paid a large fine, Pericles regained power.

He soon became infected and died of the plague.

The famous Athenian politician Pericles lived in 490-429. BC. Belonging to an influential aristocratic family, he received an excellent education under the guidance of the philosopher Anaxagoras. From the very beginning of his political activity, he joined the middle strata of the slave-owning democracy, headed at that time by Ephialtes, a man who was striving with all his might to limit the power of the aristocracy. Subsequently, after the death of Ephialtes, Pericles became the leader of the Athenian democracy, this time corresponded to the period of its heyday.

Being an outstanding speaker, for fifteen years Pericles served as the first strategist and ruler of the Athenian state. In his political activities, he stood up for the interests of the middle strata of the Athenian demos of merchants, shipowners, workshop owners, small and medium landowners.

During the reign of Pericles, the formation of the Athenian state was completed: the supreme power passed to the people's assemblies, the actual abolition of the property qualification and the replacement of voting by lots in the election of the majority of officials, payment for public and military service was introduced.

The reign of Pericles was marked by the flourishing of culture and art, large-scale construction, which gave work to many citizens, the creation of a special fund for distributing money to poor citizens to visit the theater, and the poor were withdrawn to separate settlements. However, all these activities concerned only full-fledged citizens.

In foreign policy, Pericles adhered to the principles of strengthening the navy and positions on the Black Sea coast, strengthening the power of Athens over the allies. As a strategist, Pericles personally led a number of military campaigns and expeditions, suppressing the attempts of individual cities to withdraw from the Delian League.

A year before his death, Pericles was not elected a strategist, accused of financial abuse, and a large fine was imposed. Despite this, in 429 BC. the influence of Pericles was restored, and he again became the strategist of the Athenian state. Such a high popularity of Pericles is explained by the fact that the policy pursued by him corresponded to the interests of the majority of Athenian citizens. However, soon after returning to public activity, Pericles died, presumably from the plague raging in Greece at that time.

Greece under Pericles reached unprecedented heights of intellectual development, the reign of this great commander and orator was called Pericles Ages. Athens became the largest political, economic and cultural center of the Hellenistic world.

Summing up, we can say that Pericles played a great role in the development of the entire Greek, and, accordingly, world culture. His name is worthy to stand on a par with the names of such figures as Socrates, Aristotle, Demosthenes, and should not be forgotten, just as his role in the formation of democracy, the development of art and sciences should not be forgotten.

Once, when he, along with Sophocles, participated in a naval expedition as a strategist and Sophocles praised one handsome boy, Pericles told him: “A strategist, Sophocles, should not only have clean hands, but also eyes.”

As he was dying, he said to himself in praise that none of the Athenians had to wear mourning because of him.

Birth is a blessing for those who by their deeds will leave an eternal memory of themselves.

Sources: citaty.su, shkolazhizni.ru, prezentacii.com, 5klass.net, enc-dic.com

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Pericles (about 490 - 429 BC), an ancient Greek politician, the head of the Athenian state during its peak (443-429 BC).

A representative of an ancient aristocratic family, Pericles, thanks to his oratorical gift and ability to compromise, managed to gain the support of the majority of the inhabitants of Athens and for many years ruled this first of the Greek cities.

In his youth, Pericles was a supporter of the democrat Ephialtes, who proposed to limit the power of the aristocracy concentrated in the Areopagus (462 BC). After the death of Ephialtes, he led the most numerous Athenian party.

Having achieved the expulsion of the leader of the aristocrats Cimon (461 BC), Pericles began to play a major role in Athenian politics, and after defeating another rival, Thucydides (443 BC), he headed the Athenian state as a strategist, for which he was re-elected 15 times. The secret of his success with fellow citizens was the abolition of the property qualification when elected to public office.

Pericles introduced a daily pay for public service, making it affordable for poor citizens. Insisting on strengthening the power of the Athenian Maritime Union, Pericles showed the Athenians its advantageous side: with the funds collected from the allies, he built a new magnificent Acropolis with the Parthenon temple, as well as the “Long Walls” between the city and the port of Piraeus, which turned Athens into an impregnable fortress. Not only architects and artists, but all people who worked on construction, received a generous reward. Pericles decided to consider citizens only those whose both parents were natives of Athens. By this, the strategist proved his disinterestedness: after all, his beloved wife, the beautiful Aspasia, was from Miletus, therefore their children could not obtain citizenship.

Pericles created settlements of Athenian citizens in the allied cities, conquered and strengthened the colonies of the possessions of Athens on the Black Sea and in southern Italy. Having made peace with Persia (449 BC) and with Sparta (for 30 years, 445 BC), the strategist considered the hegemony of Athens unshakable. So did his enemies from among his fellow countrymen, who brought harsh accusations against the friends of Pericles: Phidias, Anaxagoras, and others. Aspasia was not only ridiculed in comedies, but brought to trial for immorality and disrespect for the gods (432 BC).

In 431 BC. e. The Spartans entered Attica and locked the Athenians in their stronghold. A plague began in the city, the popularity of Pericles fell catastrophically, he was not elected a strategist and accused of embezzlement (430 BC). The next year, having paid a large fine, Pericles regained power.

He soon became infected and died of the plague.

In the concept of the modern world, under a democratic system, all people have equal rights. A man and a woman, a politician and a janitor, a rich and a poor man, a foreigner and a native of the state are equal before the law.

In ancient times, when the whole world was characterized by a slave system, ordinary people dreamed of equality. Then the concept of "democracy" had a slightly different character. The Athenian democracy under Pericles came closest to the modern concept of this term. The century of his reign is named after him - the Age of Pericles.

Pericles

Pericles was born into a noble family. His mother Agarista came from one of the most famous families in Athens - the Alcmeonids, and his father, Xanthippus, commander of the Athenian fleet, won the battles at Cape Mycale during the Greco-Persian War.

Pericles was a healthy and strong child, but it was difficult to call him handsome because of the disproportionate fact. Therefore, all artists and sculptors depicted the ruler exclusively in a helmet. And in comedies, in view of this shortcoming, he was given the nickname "Onion Head."

Since Pericles belonged to a noble family, he was well educated and had eminent mentors.

Excellent upbringing and education played an important role in the life of Pericles. He was a good speaker and always knew how to win over the people. Another characteristic feature of the leader of the Athenian demos was the ability to remain calm in any situation. A story is known when one of the disgruntled citizens followed Pericles, pouring insults all the way to the house, but the wise ruler not only did not punish the offender, but also ordered his servant to escort the insolent man to his home.

How Pericles Became the Leader of Athenian Democracy

Pericles began his career with military campaigns. He avoided political activity, because he was afraid of being expelled because of his outward resemblance to the earlier tyrant Peisistartus. Political opponents, trying in every possible way to diminish his influence, often drew the attention of the people to the similarity of the voice and manner of speaking of Pericles with the tyrant.

Due to the fact that at that time there were no worthy politicians in Athens (some died, but most were expelled), Pericles was nevertheless elected to high positions. Athenian democracy under Pericles also affected the personal life of the leader, he had to refuse to communicate with aristocratic relatives and meetings with famous friends.

Despite the large number of enemies from the aristocratic party, Pericles adhered to a democratic system until the end of his reign.

The administrative policy of Athens in the era of Pericles

Democracy under Pericles, the pros and cons, which you can see by reading this article to the end, is still not at all the form in which people are used to seeing it today.

However, with the advent of Pericles to power, the citizens of Athens had much more rights. The main step towards democracy was the abolition of the Areopagus and the transfer of its rights to the People's Assembly. Now ordinary citizens of all classes, by drawing lots and voting, when gathered, make all important decisions. Archons are only executive bodies.

The National Assembly includes all the citizens of Athens, with the exception of only peasants who refuse to leave their destinies for the sake of participating in political activities.

Consider the main features of Athenian democracy under Pericles, noted by Aristotle.

Election of officers

Officials are annually elected by the people at a general meeting. Councils, which must include all Phils, are selected by lottery. Each phyla nominates fifty candidates, one of the phyla is still appointed Prytanus in the same way. The pritans choose the place where the meeting will take place, prepare a list of issues that are considered daily at the council meeting, and the pritans also choose people who will be responsible for the war and defense of the country. The head of the Pritans is also determined by lot, the chosen one has access to the treasury, all state documents and the press.

In total, the Pritans appoint four meetings, at the main meeting the legality of the elected authorities is checked, the defense and the food economy of the country are discussed. The second deals with petitions and lawsuits. The third and fourth people's meetings are needed to consider other aspects of the life of the country.

The soviets approve the archons and other political figures chosen by the People's Assembly.

Athenian democracy under Pericles, trials

Judicial power is also available to the common people, who are constantly present in the heliast tribunal.

Speaking about how the slave-owning democracy developed under Pericles, it should be noted that power, even in such a narrow direction as the tribunal, was divided among a large number of people.

Absolutely any citizen of Athens had the right to accuse an unscrupulous politician, and he appeared before a people's tribunal. After considering such a case, if the allegations are confirmed, the statesman should be removed from his post and possibly even expelled, and his property sold at auction.

Archons were chosen from the ranks of the people, they were addressed with everyday complaints (for example, mistreatment of children without parents) and with complaints about statesmen. Nine archons chose a judge by drawing lots.

Particularly grave crimes, such as murder, grievous mutilation, etc., were considered in the Areopagus, where, as mentioned above, a part of the citizens constantly sat, which significantly reduced the ability of defendants to bribe judges.

The basis of Athenian democracy under Pericles is the distribution of control over each area of ​​the state mechanism among as many citizens as possible.

in the era of Pericles

Despite his belonging to the nobility, Pericles tried in every possible way to make life easier for the common people. Having introduced a law according to which it was allowed to take part in political activities and hold high positions not only for people from rich families, but also for citizens of the middle and poor classes, the leader of the Athenian demos understood that, constantly caring about their financial condition, ordinary people would not be able to honestly and participate rationally in government. Therefore, it was decided to give payments to citizens holding positions in the state treasury.

Also, Athenian democracy under Pericles meant social payments to cripples and orphans. Poor citizens received payments for the purchase of tickets to the theater, which played a significant role in shaping the mentality of the people.

Providing the Athenians with land and work

The wise head of the Athenian demos understood that the well-being of the people needed to be improved not only with social financial assistance, but also with provision for the free inhabitants of Athens. Pericles annually put forward large-scale projects for buildings and other works that give places to various artisans. Thanks to this approach, Athens became a cultural center, famous for its unrealistically beautiful buildings.

Sixty tiers were equipped annually, in the crews of which any Athenian could enroll and receive payment throughout the service.

In order to expand the borders of Attica, it was decided to create on the territory of the states that are members of the Athenian Union, settlements-kleruchii, where any citizen of Athens could receive a plot of land for cultivation.

Like any other system, democracy under Pericles had pluses and minuses.

Among the shortcomings of his reign, historians note that only those inhabitants of Athens were considered citizens, both of whose parents had Athenian citizenship.

And of course, it is worth noting that women did not have the right to take part in the political life of the country.

Slave democracy under Pericles (briefly)

Speaking of the democracy of that time, it would be unfair to ignore the issue of slavery in Athens.

Half of the 400,000 inhabitants of Athens were slaves. Most often, prisoners of war became servile, who were not able to pay a ransom for themselves. The status of a slave was inherited, so a child born as a slave was doomed to repeat the fate of his parents.

Under Pericles, they are visible even in the sphere of slavery. Masters were forbidden to mistreat their slaves. A slave had to be fed and dressed no worse than an Athenian from a poor class. They were allowed to participate in various religious holidays, and they were given a guarantee against the rudeness of judges and politicians. Asylum was provided to slaves in the event of mistreatment.

All the dirty, domestic and difficult work was done by slaves. With the permission of the owners of the slaves, the state hired them to build buildings. The slave was obliged to give his wages to the owner.

The hard work of captives in the mines was assumed by the Athenian slave-owning democracy under Pericles, the story of these unfortunates rarely had a happy ending.

Under Pericles, debt slavery was abolished, so that a father could sell his daughters into slavery only if they were caught in a dissolute life.

End of the reign of Pericles

Pericles was chosen strategist for fifteen years.

Despite the fact that Athenian democracy under Pericles had a positive impact on the state, the events of that period associated with the war with Sparta greatly undermined the authority of the permanent strategist. And the people, forgetting about the benefits that he brought to the state, after a series of military failures and a plague in Athens, accused Pericles of all failures and theft and sentenced him to a heavy fine. Pericles soon fell ill with the plague and died.

5th century BC commonly referred to as the age of Pericles, or the "golden age" of Athenian democracy. In fact, this century lasted only 32 years, during whichPericles unchallengedly ruled the Athenian state. But these were precisely those years when the dazzling creations of an artistic genius appeared one after another, which provided Athens with the glory of the cradle of European civilization.

Physically Pericles did not differ in anything, except for the elongated shape of the skull. He had a head "that did not end at all," in the words of one contemporary. On a famous bustPericles, this physical defect is hidden by a helmet.

Pericles came from an aristocratic family and in his youth, according to Plutarch, had "an extraordinary disgust for the people." In his mature years, he overcame this feeling, having learned, if not to love the people, then to take into account their needs. But he did not tolerate any handouts to the people. “It is not poverty that is shameful among us,” he once said in an assembly, “but let it be shameful to those who do nothing to get rid of it.”

Pericles was an ardent patriot not only of his native Athens, but of all Greece. He set out to unite all Greek cities into a strong political union. “Convinced that happiness is in freedom, and freedom is in courage, boldly face the dangers of war,” he called on his fellow tribesmen. However, this union was not at all a union of equals. Athens had the most powerful army and navy in it, and thereforePericles often abused his superior position. Suffice it to say that all the magnificent buildings and works of art that Athens adorned under him were created with money shamelessly taken from the allied treasury. When a number of cities were outraged by this,Pericles ordered to destroy them.

The political result of the activityPericles was the creation of an as yet unseen monster - "imperialist democracy", whose fans have not died out even today.

Interesting Facts

Pericles was born around 495 BC. His parents gave him an excellent education for that time. In addition to the study of music and versification, which is obligatory for every Athenian, he also studied the natural sciences under the guidance of the philosopher Anaxagoras, who moved to Athens from Asia Minor, whom his contemporaries called "Reason". Anaxagoras argued that events are not controlled by the gods, but by reason (“nous”), through which a person can know nature and himself.

Just like his teacher Anaxagoras,Pericles was alien to all superstitions. One day a fortuneteller came to him. Showing the severed head of a one-horned ram, he predicted that soon all power in the state would be concentrated in the hands of one person. Indeed, soon all state affairs were in the hands of onePericles. The fortuneteller demanded a reward for his fulfilled prediction, claiming that successPericles is associated with auspicious omen. HoweverPericles did not believe him and instructed Anaxagoras to figure out what was the reason for the deformity of the one-horned ram. The scientist proved that due to the incorrect structure of the animal's skull, the second horn could not grow and there are no miracles here.




Pericles rarely spoke in the people's assembly, because he did not want his speeches to become familiar to the people. Great knowledge and natural ability made performancesPericles was beautiful in form and deep in content, and a good education allowed him to develop his natural oratorical abilities. His gait was measured, his clothes always lay in regular folds, his speech remained invariably calm and balanced. Contemporaries likenedPericles god and called him the Olympian.

One day, a certain person, angry for something onPericles, began to scold and insult him in front of everyone.Pericles did not answer the offender. However, he did not calm down the whole day. Already in the evening whenPericles went home, this man followed him, shouting insults loudly. When they got to the housePericles, it's already dark. Before entering the housePericles ordered his slave to take a torch and escort the stranger to his house.

Pericles took care of the good of the state, not making any indulgences to the whims of individual citizens and not succumbing to the masses of the people when, under the influence of the moment, they wanted to make the wrong decision. Usually he ruled with the support of the people, but it happened that he had to lead the people against their will along a path useful to the state. WhereinPericles said that he imitates a doctor who, for the benefit of the patient, hurts him or gives him a bitter but healing medicine.

Athens at Pericles have changed. The Parthenon, Propylaea, the temple of Athena Nike were erected on the Acropolis, next to the Acropolis - the Odeon (indoor concert hall)Pericles, and above the agora - the temple of Hephaestus. The entrance to the Acropolis, the Propylaea, decorated with columns, evoked universal admiration. The construction of this colonnade lasted 5 years. The temple of the patroness of the city, the goddess Athena Parthenon, was built by the architects Kallikrat and Iktin. Inside the temple stood an 11-meter statue of the goddess by Phidias.

First wife Pericles there was Telesippe, a pious woman who fanatically worshiped the gods. However, passion Pericles science brought him closer to the woman philosopher Aspasia, a native of Miletus. Aspasia was fond of eloquence, in her house one could constantly meet talented writers, playwrights, artists and other wonderful people.



Pericles divorced Telesippa and began to cohabit with Aspasia (legal marriage with a foreigner was impossible according to Athenian laws). His love was so strong that he allowed Aspasia, in violation of custom, to go out to her husband's guests, talk with them and even take part in disputes.

In September 429 BC. e. Athens was struck by the plague. Among those infected wasPericles. His friends and relatives, gathered at the bedside of the dying man, recalled how great his valor and mind were. They spoke thinking thatPericles has lost consciousness and does not hear them. Suddenly he got up and said: “You praise me for what many others have done, but do not say anything about the greatest thing that I have done. Indeed, during the years of my reign, not a single Athenian was executed by my order.

A.S. Pushkin in the famous poems "To the portrait of Chaadaev", likened his friend Pericles:

He is by the will of heaven
Born in the fetters of the royal service;
He would be Brutus in Rome, Pericles in Athens,
And here he is a hussar officer.