Pericles (495 b.C. - 429 b.C.)
Athenian statesman. He first came to prominence as an opponent of the Areopagus
(462) and as one of the prosecutors of Cimon, whom he replaced in influence.
From then on he was the popular leader in Athens. In Athens Pericles carried
through a number of reforms that advanced democracy. As a result, all officials
in Athens were paid salaries by the state and every office was opened to most
citizens. In 451–450 he limited citizenship to those of Athenian parentage on
both sides. He made an attempt, probably in 448, to call a Panhellenic
conference, but Spartan opposition defeated his effort. Under Pericles the
Delian League reached its maximum efficiency as an instrument of Athenian
imperialism. He became a great patron of the arts and encouraged drama and
music. Under his direction Ictinus and Callicrates, Phidias and others produced
such monuments as the Parthenon and the Propylaea on the Acropolis. He was one
of the participants in the events that led to the Peloponnesian War. The war,
which began in 431, brought on the ruination of Athens. The celebrated funeral
oration that Pericles made at the end of the first year of war was a strong
appeal to the pride and patriotism of the citizens. However, Pericles was driven
from office by his enemies, only to be reelected strategos in 429. He died six
months later.
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