Internal Opposition to Pericles and the Periclean Building Program Flashcards
Thucydides
Thucydides, son of Melesias and different from the historian, led the opposition against Pericles from his rise to fame in the late 450s to the early 440s. He criticised the building program that Pericles sponsored, citing that it was immoral to spend money from the allies on buildings in Athens, but this partly acted as a pretext to prevent the lower classes from achieving financial security. Despite Thucydides’ efforts to sway the people to his side, Pericles ultimately appeased the lower classes and successfully ostracised Thucydides in 442 BC.
Pericles
Having worked closely with Ephialtes during the late 460s, Pericles inherited the leadership of the democratic faction after Ephilates’ death, culminating in his rise to power through the 450s. Pericles notably won popularity with the lower classes through his introduction of Misthophoria in the early 450s, however Pericles sort to elevate his popularity with the lower classes by introducing a building program in around 449. Using 8000 talents that had been collected from the allies, Pericles proposed to introduce a sweeping architectural overhaul which would see the creation of the Parthenon, the final extension on the long walls and the repairing of several temples that had been damaged during the Persian Wars. While increasing Athenian prestige, the larger purpose of the building program was to give financial security to the lower classes, a notion which was fiercely opposed by Thucydides who represented the Aristocratic faction. After debating in the assembly, Thucydides managed to convince the ecclesia that allied money shouldn’t be spent solely on Athens, to which Thucydides rebuffed by saying that he would then spend his own money on the works instead. The people were impressed by Pericles’ dedication, and decided to go ahead with the building program. The influence of Thucydides quickly fell as Pericles gained more popularity with the lower classes, which culminated in the ostracism of Thucydides in 442 BC. After Thucydides, opposition to Pericles materialised itself in attacks on his friends, which, according to Plutarch, caused Pericles to refuse to revoke the Megarian decree and incite the Peloponnesian War, in order to prevent attacks on him personally.
Thurii
An Athenian colony which was founded under the guidance of Pericles c.449 BC in Italy.
Parthenon
The main temple situated on the Athenian acropolis, dedicated to Athena. It was built under the Periclean building program in 447 BC, and finished sometime later in the 430s.
Long Walls
The series of walls which defended Athens and the Piraeus while connecting both of them to provide a safe land route. They were worked on several times throughout the latter half of the 5th century, however they were finished under the Periclean building program in the 440s.
Misthophoria
Pericles reform, introduced sometime in the early 450s, which gave all jurors pay of 2 obels per day for jury service, which allowed the lower classes to earn a living in public service. Pericles spending of money on worked for the Periclean building program are seen as an extension of Misthophoria, giving the lower-class citizens an income in Athenian democracy.
Kaloikagathoi
The upper-class Aristocrats in Athenian society, who controlled the Areopagus and resented the growth of the Athenian lower class under Periclean democracy. Thucydides is seen as representative of the Kaloikagathoi during this period.
Demos
The word which during this period grew to refer to the lower class in Athens, which now represented a formidable force in state politics.
Stasis
A term which refers to civil war or intense political divide, which can be applied to the democrats and the aristocrats in Athens during this period.
Pheidias
One of Pericles’ friends who was targeted by opposition to Pericles in the 430s. He was convicted of stripping gold from a statue he worked on, but was later acquitted of this charge.
Aspasia
Aspasia was Pericles’ mistress, who was prosecuted for impiety by his opposition in the 430s. She was later acquitted when Pericles got emotional with the ecclesia.
Anaxagoras
One of Pericles’ friends and a philosopher, who was targeted by Pericles opposition by a decree which made part of his philosophy illegal. Pericles protected him by moving him out of the city.
Megarian Decree
A decree which prevented the Megarians from trading in Athens or the Athenian empire. According to Plutarch, Pericles refused to withdraw the decree in 432 in order to start the Peloponnesian War and prevent further attacks being made on himself and his friends.
