Pericles
Statesman
"We do not imitate others; we are a model to them."โ From his famous Funeral Oration, praising Athenian democracy.
Biography
Pericles was born into an influential Athenian family and rose to dominate the cityโs politics during its Golden Age. A skilled orator, he repeatedly won election as strategos (general), becoming the central figure in the Athenian democracy.
He championed payments for jury service and broadened participation in public life, helping poorer citizens take part in politics. Under his leadership, Athens invested tribute from the Delian League into grand building projects, including the Parthenon on the Acropolis.
When war with Sparta broke out, Pericles argued that Athens should avoid open land battles, shelter behind the Long Walls, and rely on its navy and empire. The plan was strategically sound but vulnerable to disease. A devastating plague swept through the crowded city, killing perhaps a third of the populationโincluding Pericles himselfโand leaving Athens without its most cautious and respected leader.