Pericles' Funeral Oration was a significant timestamp in 5th century Greece, Athens and to the Classical World. The key issue for Pericles is that power is "in the hands of the many, not of the few.". Summary. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. C. Pericles believes that Athenians play too hard and work too little. Tutor and Freelance Writer. He is believed to be the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, epic poems that recount the tales of Greek gods and mythic heroes in a time before the rise of Athens. He claims that "in magnifying the city I have magnified them." He warns against cowardice and suggests that a man who dies in the grip of patriotic feeling does not even feel death. Dont have an account? He compares Athens to the heroes of legend by saying that they do not need Homer or "any other panegyrist" to praise them. Go further in your study of Pericleswith a literary context essay, background information about William Shakespeare and the play, and suggestions for further reading. Soon she gets work in a reputable house, educating girls. It was the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (431404 BCE). Here, Pericles clearly reveals the patriarchal nature of Athenian society. Their bravery made it possible for the current generation to enjoy a free state. Here is a great resource for teaching about Ancient Greece. His words were preserved by his fellow Athenian, Thucydides, in his History of the Peloponnesian War. They will then answer a creative question and complete a creative task. Under the hands of Pericles, Thucydides thought democracy could be controlled, but without him, it could be dangerous. For instance, long working hours in Yorkshire and Lancashire factories caused wide- spread dissatisfaction among textile workers. New Narration. Pericles also acknowledges that the present generation has helped ensure the prosperity and strength of Athens. "Pericles's Funeral Oration" by Philipp Foltz in 1877 The word "eulogy" comes down to us from the Greek word eulogia meaning to offer praise, or even high praise. Like "A man who has the knowledge but lacks the power to express it is no better off than if he never had any ideas at all." Pericles 4 likes. Course Hero. 1 Thuc. Such a strong sense of camaraderie is created with this speech, which is a little more of what we could use today. Antiochus sends an assassin after him. Funeral Oration Study Guide. Being born poor or of low status does not prevent a talented man from getting ahead. In Course Hero. Subscribe now. In Western culture, Pericles's oration is a model for speeches commemorating and honoring war dead. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Pericles lands in Tarsus and hands over his child, Marina, to Cleon and Dionyza, since he thinks it won't survive the journey to Tyre. We pay $$$ and it takes seconds! They chose to face death rather than run away and let their enemies triumph. John Gardener's Grendel: Summary & Analysis, Pericles Funeral Oration Analysis: Athenian. According to the Public Broadcasting Service, the idea that Athenian citizens could be rulers but also rule themselves at the same time was a new idea, and it quickly became the ideal of the Greek world. Continue to start your free trial. 14. This is what the fallen soldiers had done, earning themselvesin addition to this earthly ceremonya kind of eternal glory that will be known far and wide. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Pericles (495429 BCE) was one of the greatest leaders of the ancient Greek city-state of Athens at the height of its power. Pericles first goes to Tarsus, where king Cleon and his wife Dionyza bemoan the famine that has beset their nation. January 2023. Pericles' motAgariste was the great-granddaughter of the tyrant of Sicyon, Cleisthenes, and the niece of the Athenian reformer Cleisthenes. by Pericles who was the Athenian leader. In fact, Pericles sees Athens as having the ultimate possible government; the one best conducive to freedom, liberty, courage, honor, and justice the values most honored by the Athenians. Pericles, a great supporter of democracy, was a Greek leader and statesman during the Peloponnesian War. Have study documents to share about Funeral Oration? This is another major purpose of his speech. Dont have an account? Discount, Discount Code Had he quoted the speech verbatim, he would have written "" ("this", or "these words") instead of "" ("like this" or "words like these"). for a customized plan. Pericles also uses his praise of the dead to build an argument about what Athenians are fighting for. This system is a major point of pride for Pericles, and it is to protect this set of democratic virtues that he wishes his fellow Athenians to fight. Athens was a proud democracy (ruled by its citizens), while Sparta was an oligarchy (ruled by a small number of people). Please wait while we process your payment. In a democracy, citizens behave lawfully while doing what they like without fear of prying eyes. Summary & Analysis Prologue and Act I, Scene i Act I, Scenes ii-iii Act I, Scenes iv-v Act II, Scenes i-iii Act II, Scenes iv-v Pericles' Funeral Oration can be compared to several more modern speeches, most notably Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. 8th-century bce), and conceptualized as "rhetoric" in the 5th and 4th centuries bce.At the moment of its emergence, rhetoric was bifurcated: the new discipline of philosophy denigrated it as a realm of mere opinion and . Want 100 or more? His "History of the Peloponnesian War" set . Athens was a proud democracy. Web. He notes that the soldiers wanted to punish their enemies. "Plato's Opposition to the Veneration of Pericles". Pericles describes the Athenian form of government as an example to its neighbors, noting that Athens does not copy what others do. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Pericles (495429 BCE) was the greatest Athenian leader of his time. $24.99 At any rate, Pericles eventually succumbed to and died from this plague. In a statement oozing with patriotism, Pericles proclaims: We cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy; wealth we employ more for use than for show and place the real disgrace of poverty not in owning to the fact but in declining the struggle against it. It is these balanced priorities and powerful show of moderation that makes Athens great. It has been described as "a eulogy of Athens itself." The speech is a glorification of Athens' achievements, designed to stir the spirits of a state still at war. He thought that parents made better judges of policy because having children gave them a greater stake in the well-being of the state. Pericles notes that he has paid the required tribute, as the law requires, by honoring the dead with his words. "Funeral Oration Study Guide." Pericles is arguing that deliberation and discussion is actually a strength of Athens and not a defect, as others often claim. Gill, N.S. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Fewer still have read or heard of the Emancipation Proclamation or Pericles Funeral Oration, including many teachers and academics. Addressing those who lost loved ones in the battle, Pericles says that he is offering them comfort rather than pity. Funeral Oration Pericles was a famous Greek general. With this disclaimer, Pericles states that he will nevertheless follow Athenian tradition and give the customary funeral oration, doing his best to satisfy the desires and opinions of his audience. [14] This amounts to a focus on present-day Athens; Thucydides' Pericles thus decides to praise the war dead by glorifying the city for which they died. With the linkage of Athens' greatness complete, Pericles moves to addressing his audience. Near the start of the Peloponnesian War, a plague swept the city. Pericles claims that his praise of Athens is based on fact. You'll also receive an email with the link. Now, at the burial of those who were the first to fall in the war Pericleswas chosen to make the speech. He also says that the Athenians open their borders to the world and do not exclude foreigners. It is important to note that citizens had to be male and over 18 years old. They relied upon themselves and did not give up during battle. Finally, Pericles says that the Athenian state, which has already provided a burial service, will also pay for the upbringing of the sons of the dead men. However, as he . This English word comes from the Greek demos, meaning "people," and kratia, meaning "strength" or "power." Pericles concludes his speech by encouraging his listeners to choose virtuous behavior in the days ahead. The speech is also remembered for its celebration of the principles of democracy and its emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of citizens. The Spartans, on the other hand, are never free of hardship because of their strict society. Political Aspects of the Classical Age of Greece, How Athenian Democracy Developed in 7 Stages, The Peloponnesian War: Causes of the Conflict, Timeline of Battles and Treaties in Peloponnesian War, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. Pericles was a leading figure from the Greek Peloponnesian War. The ceremony drew a large crowd, including friends and families of the deceased. He is suggesting that the neighbors and rivals of Athens usually fall short of their boasts when they are tested, while his praise of Athens is accurate. Pericles' Funeral Oration - Peloponnesian War Primary Source Analysis Worksheet. (As it turned out, Athens would not succeed. Gill, N.S. The historian Thucydides wrote about the speech of Pericles in his History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides wrote that the speech was reproduced from his memory and was a loose account only. Athenians rejected Sparta's values and practices, although it was clear that Sparta's culture did work to product a strong military. "If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differencesif a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition. Web. The Gettysburg Address and Pericles Funeral Oration Pages: 3 (726 words) Declaration of Independence vs. Gettysburg Address Pages: 3 (747 words) The Gettysburg Address Main Ideas Pages: 2 (485 words) Stylistic Analysis of Gettysburg Address Pages: 4 (979 words) The causes and effects of the gettysburg address Pages: 5 (1426 words) Men were encouraged to develop the masculine virtues of bravery and dutiful citizenship. Copyright 2016. He praises the Athenian combination of daring and deliberation, meaning that they combine both consideration of a course of action and bravery when executing it. Athens's friends and allies in the struggle with Sparta were really subjects of the Athenian empire. "Before I pass on to the praise of the dead, I should like to point out by what principles of action Athens rose to power, and under what institutions and through what manner of life we reached greatness. Pericles's speech is an argument for the greatness and superiority of Athens. He was born around 460 BCE, into an upper-class Athenian family with substantial property - including gold mines - in Thrace. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Thucydides fervently supported Periclesbut was less enthusiastic about the institution of democracy. The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. Read the detailed scene-by-scene Summary & Analysis, the Full Book Summary, or the Full Book Analysis of Pericles. What Athens framed as generosity to its allies was really a mechanism for controlling the other city-states it ruled over. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. The speech starts with Pericles saying how he cannot believe that this man who had such great talent has died and then goes on to talk about what a great life Euripides led. Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 74 Pericles Click the card to flip ABSTRACT. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Pericles, a great supporter of democracy, was a Greek leader and statesman during the Peloponnesian War. In spite of his often jingoistic faith in Athens, Pericles is indeed right in assuming that the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be [Athenss]. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. This comment suggests the importance of fulfilling civic duties and following the law. The goal that Pericles achieved through this speech was to make the people feel proud to be Athenians. But soon a letter from Helicanus calls Pericles back to Tyre, so he sets off. On the way home Pericles is shipwrecked in a storm in Pentapolis. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Sometimes it can end up there. Here, he refers to the Spartans as Lacedaemonians, as Sparta was located in the Laconia region of the Peloponnese, in southern Greece. In Pentapolis, Pericles hears of recent events and determines to go back to Tyre. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Thus, choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonour"[19] The conclusion seems inevitable: "Therefore, having judged that to be happy means to be free, and to be free means to be brave, do not shy away from the risks of war". Martha Taylor argues that Thucydides subtly critiques Pericles' vision of Athens as a city divorced from the territory of Attica and focused, instead, .