1616thth November 2010 November 2010

Thucydides’ Views in Book Thucydides’ Views in Book IIII

What am I?What am I?

What am I?What am I?

What am I?What am I?

Nestor’s cup I am, good to drink from.Whoever drinks this cup empty, straightaway

the desire of beautiful-crowned Aphrodite will seize.

Do you agree with this statement?Do you agree with this statement?

Thucydides explicitly states however that his work is Thucydides explicitly states however that his work is designed to be different from other histories: it was designed to be different from other histories: it was not “designed to meet the taste of an immediate not “designed to meet the taste of an immediate public, but was done to last for ever.” public, but was done to last for ever.” For the most For the most part, political philosophers have agreed with him part, political philosophers have agreed with him that his work has a universal and timeless that his work has a universal and timeless significance because it speaks of human naturesignificance because it speaks of human nature..

Present a for and against statement for the question Present a for and against statement for the question above.above.

Thucydides’ Views in Book IIThucydides’ Views in Book II

Pericles’ funeral orationPericles’ funeral oration

Funeral Oration AnalysisFuneral Oration AnalysisThe oration is one of the most studied pieces of classical Greek The oration is one of the most studied pieces of classical Greek literature. It is said to embody the Athenian Myth – the merits and literature. It is said to embody the Athenian Myth – the merits and virtues by which Athens placed itself pre-eminent amongst the other virtues by which Athens placed itself pre-eminent amongst the other Greek states. It is a rallying cry for Athenians to embody the spirit of Greek states. It is a rallying cry for Athenians to embody the spirit of Athens, to embrace their history to create their destiny (or something Athens, to embrace their history to create their destiny (or something to that effect……)to that effect……)

Pericles occupies a central role for two reasons. First, he Pericles occupies a central role for two reasons. First, he was the leading citizen of Athens at that time and his was the leading citizen of Athens at that time and his vision guided the Athenians’ early actions in the war. vision guided the Athenians’ early actions in the war. Second, general scholarly consensus is that Thucydides Second, general scholarly consensus is that Thucydides was an avid supporter of Pericles and one of the best was an avid supporter of Pericles and one of the best ways to elucidate Thucydides’ philosophy is to examine ways to elucidate Thucydides’ philosophy is to examine the words of Periclesthe words of Pericles

The Three SpeechesThe Three Speeches In pairs, analyse the commentary you have been In pairs, analyse the commentary you have been

given.given.

You must bullet point notes on the following for You must bullet point notes on the following for each one – each one –

1.1. What was the context of the speechWhat was the context of the speech2.2. What was the content of the speech?What was the content of the speech?

Tip: Can you think why you are being asked to find out Tip: Can you think why you are being asked to find out this information? What relevance will it have?.......this information? What relevance will it have?.......

Pericles’ Speeches:

1. In the first speech, Pericles articulates his policies and programs for how the Athenians can best fight the war. Pericles encouraged the Athenians to concentrate on the advantage of the sea, cautioned against moving out to meet the Spartans, who were superior land warriors, and encouraged them to concentrate their resources exclusively on the war rather than looking to further expansion of the empire. .1.143

Pericles Speeches2. Pericles’ second speech is the funeral oration proper,

which takes place at the end of the first year of this war. Although Thucydides never mentions how many soldiers have fallen in battle at this time, it is likely the number was not large. James A. Mackin observes, “several skirmishes occurred but the main armies of Athens and Sparta did not meet; and so the number of Athenian dead was probably relatively small at this point.” At the time of the oration then, the Athenian community was merely observing a ritual by holding the funeral oration, they were not in mourning and had not suffered severe losses.

Pericles’ Speeches

3. The third, and final, speech of Pericles takes place in 430 BCE after the outbreak of the plague, which devastated Athens. The Athenians underwent a dramatic shift during this time in their attitudes towards the war, Pericles, and the Athenian role in the war. This was the context for the third speech and with this speech, Pericles defends his policies and programs and encourages the Athenians to sustain their effort. Shortly after delivering the third speech, Pericles succumbed to the plague and died.

Spider Diagram Time!Spider Diagram Time!

On the next slide is a variety of On the next slide is a variety of analysis on the importance of the analysis on the importance of the Speech and its content.Speech and its content.

As a group we are going to analyse As a group we are going to analyse this commentary and produce a this commentary and produce a diagram of the various themes that diagram of the various themes that are drawn from the speech.are drawn from the speech.

Analysis:Analysis:The funeral oration Pericles delivers at the end of the first year of the war is The funeral oration Pericles delivers at the end of the first year of the war is unquestionably significant. It is the clearest expression of the Athenian ideal or the unquestionably significant. It is the clearest expression of the Athenian ideal or the myth of Athens: myth of Athens:

- - Lowell EdmundsLowell Edmunds observes that in the funeral oration Pericles emphasizes the quality observes that in the funeral oration Pericles emphasizes the quality of the Athenian constitution and character, which is significant because it highlights of the Athenian constitution and character, which is significant because it highlights and celebrates that which is unique and characteristic of Athens.and celebrates that which is unique and characteristic of Athens.- Clifford OrwinClifford Orwin succinctly notes that “the funeral oration articulates, with the highest succinctly notes that “the funeral oration articulates, with the highest artfulness, a portrait of the Athenian empire in its Sunday best.” artfulness, a portrait of the Athenian empire in its Sunday best.” - OrwinOrwin, “Pericles depicts imperial Athens as the noblest of human projects, freely , “Pericles depicts imperial Athens as the noblest of human projects, freely undertaken by the citizens of Athens in full awareness of all that it entails.”21 undertaken by the citizens of Athens in full awareness of all that it entails.”21

-The funeral oration portrays the idealized self-image of the Athenians. This myth of The funeral oration portrays the idealized self-image of the Athenians. This myth of Athens sets the standard for Athenian conduct and is the ideal referred to for the Athens sets the standard for Athenian conduct and is the ideal referred to for the remainder of Thucydides’ remainder of Thucydides’ History. History.

-The myth of Athens presented by Pericles emphasizes three things: first, the Athenian The myth of Athens presented by Pericles emphasizes three things: first, the Athenian empire was a spontaneous development, which resulted from Athenian virtue. empire was a spontaneous development, which resulted from Athenian virtue. Second, the present generation is the culmination of Athenian civilization and the Second, the present generation is the culmination of Athenian civilization and the empire the greatest fulfillment of human desire, which had replaced even the need for empire the greatest fulfillment of human desire, which had replaced even the need for the gods. Finally, it espouses the integration of the public and the private spheres the gods. Finally, it espouses the integration of the public and the private spheres because all Athenians will benefit from the eternal glory of Athens. because all Athenians will benefit from the eternal glory of Athens.

Why is the speech significant?Why is the speech significant?

1.1. Perhaps part of the reason Pericles’ oration has received Perhaps part of the reason Pericles’ oration has received such attention is because although the practice was an such attention is because although the practice was an ancient one, only a few ancient one, only a few epitaphios epitaphios have survived to modern have survived to modern day and of those, only a few are considered to be true day and of those, only a few are considered to be true representations of the genre.representations of the genre.

2.2. Funeral orations, or Funeral orations, or epitaphios, epitaphios, occupied an important occupied an important place in the Athenian tradition. Demosthenes even goes so place in the Athenian tradition. Demosthenes even goes so far as to claim they are an exclusive Athenian invention.far as to claim they are an exclusive Athenian invention.

3.3. Funeral orations derive their meaning and their purpose Funeral orations derive their meaning and their purpose from the observation of tradition and ritual. Pericles funeral from the observation of tradition and ritual. Pericles funeral oration clearly fits into this genre in a formulaic sense, the oration clearly fits into this genre in a formulaic sense, the context as well as the thematic content of the speech was context as well as the thematic content of the speech was in keeping in keeping

Why is Pericles’ third speech so Why is Pericles’ third speech so different?different?

One Scholarly opinion……. There is however a very different purpose for these ideas in the

two speeches. In the funeral oration, the overall purpose is to articulate the myth of Athens, how the Athenians saw themselves, or at least, how they would like to see themselves. The final speech, by contrast, is more pragmatic and action-oriented. The funeral oration is the true myth of Athens, and Pericles’ final speech is a practical explanation of how the Athenians can re-attain the heights of their own mythology.

Mr Waller’s analysis…… It is a critique of their failings and the failings of their

Empire, but also a passionate plea to correct these failings. It can be seen as Thucydides’ impression of a city corrupted from its own ideal and a template for how to re-establish their once proud reputation.

You must attempt to answer this question next time, this work will be on MOODLE, your task is to try and make three points as to why the speech is so different, you can agree or disagree with my view, if you dare…...

http://www.ucalgary.ca/innovations/http://www.ucalgary.ca/innovations/files/innovations/Ritchie%20Politicalfiles/innovations/Ritchie%20Political%20Myth%20and%20Action.pdf%20Myth%20and%20Action.pdf