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# Pericles

## Overview
Pericles (Greek: Περικλῆς, "surrounded by glory"; ~495–429 BCE) was an Athenian statesman and general who led Athens during its Golden Age, championing democracy, arts, and the construction of the Parthenon. Thucydides, his contemporary, acclaimed him "the first citizen of Athens." [^2]

## Key Facts
- Born: ~495 BCE, Athens
- Died: 429 BCE, Athens (plague)
- Role: Strategos (general), elected repeatedly ~443–429 BCE
- Political alignment: Democratic faction
- Family: Son of Xanthippus (general, hero of the Persian Wars) and Agariste (niece of Cleisthenes; Alcmaeonidae clan) [^1]

## Early Life and Education
- Descended from the aristocratic Alcmaeonidae family through his mother Agariste [^1]
- Music teacher: Damon of Oa (though Aristotle names Pythoclides); Damon was later ostracized partly due to his association with Pericles [^1]
- Intellectual mentor: Anaxagoras, the philosopher, who shaped Pericles' rationalist outlook [^1]
- As a young man (~472 BCE), funded the production of Aeschylus's *The Persae* as choregos [^1]

## Rise to Power
- Aligned with Ephialtes to curtail the powers of the Areopagus (~462–461 BCE), marking the start of radical Athenian democracy [^2]
- Led the prosecution of Cimon in 463 BCE; Cimon was ostracized in 461 BCE, clearing the path for Pericles' dominance [^2]
- After Ephialtes' assassination (461 BCE), became the preeminent leader of Athens
- The period of his leadership (~461–429 BCE) is known as the "Age of Pericles" [^2]

## Achievements
- Expanded Athenian democracy: Introduced pay for jury service, opening participation to poorer citizens [^1]
- Citizenship law (451 BCE): Restricted Athenian citizenship to those born of two Athenian citizen parents [^1]
- Commissioned the Parthenon and other Acropolis buildings (~447–432 BCE) [^1]
- Led the Delian League, transforming it into an Athenian empire [^2]
- Funded free theater access for all citizens, reinforcing cultural and civic participation [^1]
- Funeral Oration (431 BCE): Celebrated Athenian democracy and values [^2]

## Personal Life
- Companion: Aspasia of Miletus, an intellectual and rhetorician; could not legally marry her under his own citizenship law [^1]
- Had a son, Pericles the Younger, by Aspasia; citizenship was granted to him by special decree [^3]

## Peloponnesian War
- His defensive strategy against Sparta (retreating behind the Long Walls) led to overcrowding in Athens [^2]
- Plague of Athens (430–426 BCE) killed ~25% of the population, including Pericles himself in 429 BCE [^2]
- Was tried and fined by the Athenians during the war, then re-elected strategos shortly before his death [^2]

---
[^1]: Plutarch, *Life of Pericles*
[^2]: Thucydides, *History of the Peloponnesian War* 2.35–46
[^3]: Plutarch, *Life of Pericles*; cf. Researchgate, "Pericles the Younger and the Citizenship Law" (2008)
---

## Review Queue

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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Born: ~495 BCE, Athens" - when was this true?
> 495 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Died: 429 BCE, Athens (plague)" - when was this true?
> 429 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Role: Strategos (general), elected repeatedly ~443–429 BCE" - when was this true?
> 429 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Political alignment: Democratic faction" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Expanded Athenian democracy: Introduced pay for jury service, opening partici..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Commissioned the Parthenon and other Acropolis buildings (~447–432 BCE)" - when was this true?
> 432 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Led the Delian League, transforming it into an Athenian empire" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Funeral Oration (431 BCE): Celebrated Athenian democracy and values [^2]" - when was this true?
> 431 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "His defensive strategy against Sparta (retreating behind the Long Walls) led ..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Plague of Athens (430–426 BCE) killed ~25% of the population, including Per..." - when was this true?
> 426 BCE event. Attested by Plutarch (~75 CE) [^1]; Thucydides (~400 BCE) [^2]; Plutarch (~75 CE) [^3]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Born: ~495 BCE, Athens" - what is the source?
> Plutarch Life of Pericles [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Died: 429 BCE, Athens (plague)" - what is the source?
> Plutarch Life of Pericles [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Role: Strategos (general), elected repeatedly ~443–429 BCE" - what is the source?
> Plutarch Life of Pericles [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Political alignment: Democratic faction" - what is the source?
> Plutarch Life of Pericles [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Commissioned the Parthenon and other Acropolis buildings (~447–432 BCE)" - what is the source?
> Plutarch Life of Pericles [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Led the Delian League, transforming it into an Athenian empire" - what is the source?
> Thucydides 2.35-46 [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "His defensive strategy against Sparta (retreating behind the Long Walls) led ..." - what is the source?
> Thucydides 2.35-46 [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Plague of Athens (430–426 BCE) killed ~25% of the population, including Per..." - what is the source?
> Thucydides 2.35-46 [^2]