Themistocles | UNIT 2 TEST Flashcards
When did Themistoles live?
524-460 B.C
Was Themistocles from noble birth?
No
What was the gymnasium of Cynosarges? What does Themistocles have to do with the gymnasium?
A place where Athenians of mixed, or alien parentage were enrolled.; Themistocles was believed to have done away with the discrimination between pure Athenians and those of Mixed descent by inviting young men of good family to go out to Cynosarges and take their exercise there with him
How does the teacher of Themistocles describe him?
His master described Themistocles as a boy who would turn out to be a great man, for good or evil.; “At least there will be nothing petty about you, my boy. You are going to be a great man one way or the other, either for good or evil.”
What is Plutarch’s description of the Sophists?
The successors of Mnesiphilus who combined his works of ‘wisdom’ with various forensic techniques and transferred its applications from public affairs to the use of language
According to Plutarch what did Themistocles desire from an early age? Who opposed Themistocles and what was this person’s temperament?
He desired to win the leading place in the state.; Aristides, who was gentle by nature and was conservative.
What was the first reason the Athenians were convinced to invest in a navy? What was the consequences for this for Athens?
The Conflict between Athens and Aegina was at its height, and so Themistocles played upon the Athenians’ enmity and jealousy toward the Aeginetans to make them agree to the outlay; The Athenians built a hundred triremes with the money, and the ships fought at Salamis against Xerxes.
What does Plutarch consider the great triumph?
When Themistocles put an end to the fighting within Greece, reconciling the various cities with one another and persuaded them to lay aside their differences because of the war with Persia
In chapter 7 the Greeks begin to have problems working together. How does Themistocles try to reconcile Athens and Sparta?
Themistocles tries to reconcile with Athens by promising them that if they moved their valour in the fighting, he would guarantee that the rest of the Greeks would accept their leadership later on.
How did Themistocles act after the battle of Salamis and what did he do in Athens?
I would say he acted more mature and more wise than before;He told the Athens to sail with the fleet to Hellespont and break down the bridge of boats, to take down Asia without stirring out of Europe. After all of this, he immediately took in hand the rebuilding and fortification of Athens. pg.
Why do the Athenians begin to change in how they feel toward Themistocles?
They felt that Themistocles was taking all the credit for great achievements that happened in Athens. “for not only did he style the goddess Artemis wisest in counsel – with the hint that it was he who had given the best counsel to the Athenians and the Greeks- but he chose a site for it near his own house at Melite.
What happens when Themistocles gets to Persia and meets with the King?
Themistocles introduces himself to the King, confessing he has dome harm to the Persians, yet more good than harm, for he prevented the Greeks from pursuing the Persians once they were safe. He tells the King he has come to receive his favour or plead with him if he still bears a grudge against Themistocles.
Make a list of the vices and virtues you think Themistocles had.
Some virtues Themistocles had was saving the Persians from the Greeks, and helping the Athenians in the battle of Salamis. Some vices he had in my opinion, were marrying multiple women and having children with each of them, and treating a snake as a divine portent, as in pg
