Plutarch’s Life of Themistocles
Peitho in the Service of City and Self
Agenda
• Oral Report (conclusion)• Natham, Christina, Orin
• Recap and Update• The Road to Democracy…
• Themistocles Son of Neocles• Biographical Overview
• Themistocles for President!• A Good Idea?
Oral Report (conclusion)
Natham, Christina, Orin
Recap and Update
The Road to Democracy…
Historical Sketch
Greece
• ca. 1200 BCE– Trojan War
• ca. 800– Emerging poleis
Athens
• ca. 620– Draco’s law code
• 594/3– Solon’s reforms
• 560-510– Peisistratean tyranny
• 507– Cleisthenic reforms
9-Oct Readings: Issues
• Justice and the state– Stasis, eunomia– monarkhia, isonomia
• Constitutional concerns– Democracy– Oligarchy– Tyranny
• Questions of peitho– Monarchy– Charismatic
democracy
Athenian Democracy ca. 485
dēmos
10 stratēgoi
boulē 500
diskastēria
9 archons
“The polis . . .
. . . of the Athenians”
Areopagus…
Themistocles Son of Neocles
Biographical Overview
Biographical, Historical Info
• ca. 528. Birth• 493/2. Archon• 490-479. Persian Wars• 482. Aristides ostracized• 480. Themistocles Strategos
• ca. 472. T’s ostracism, condemnation• 462. Death in exile
“It is said, in fact, that Themistocles was quite carried away by his yearning for
fame and that his ambition to play a part in great events had become a passion with
him.” (Plutarch Themistocles pp. 79-80 Penguin)
legetai gar houtō paraphoros pros doxan einai kai praxeōn megalōn hupo philotimias erastēs.
Themistocles for President!
A Good Idea?
Your Comments. . .
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