Perikles and his Circle.

PODLECKI, A.J.,

ISBN 10: 0415067944 / ISBN 13: 9780415067942

Published by Routledge, 1997

About this Item

Routledge, Lond0n / New York, 1998. 248p. Black silver titled cloth with pictorial dust wrps. Dust wrps slightly wrinkled to edges. ?Pericles continues to fascinate. (?) Podlecki?s book provides a thorough review of the evidence for Pericles? life and activity. The chapters march in orderly fashion through life, his first appearance as choregus for Aeschylus? Persians, philosophical influences, the political events from the 460s to the 440s, his relation to Phidias and Aspasia, the war with Samos, and the Peloponnesian War, while appendices give special attention to topics such as his citizenship law and the attacks of the comic poets. The method is to take each incident in isolation, examine the evidence, and come up with a decision, usually quitte conservative, about its vailidity as a historical fact. Little attempt is made to tie the various items together, or to give an overla view of the character of Pericles, of why he might have been admired or vilified, or of his effect on his city and the Aegean world.? (PHILIP STADTER in The Classical World, 2000, p.637). From the library of Prof. Dr. H.F.J. Horstmanshoff.

Seller Inventory # 63220

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Perikles and his Circle.
• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415067944
• ISBN 13: 9780415067942
• Binding: Hardcover

About this title

Synopsis

Perikles, the creator of the reputation of Classical Athens was an enigmatic figure. This book traces Perikles' development from a somewhat hesitant, though left-leaning politician, to a mature statesman fully committed to expanding Athens' maritime empire and using the material benefits of that empire to improve the ordinary lives of Athenian citizens. Podlecki examines Perikles' actions and interactions with a large and varied circle of friends, acquaintances, and political adversaries and shows how his circle of friends advised and influenced his development as a leader. Perikles, the 'first citizen', as Thucydides termed him, was a man characterised by a subtle versatility and tenacity of purpose. Of paramount importance was that Athenians be made to appreciate their superiority, and also develop a willingness to assert it, even if that meant war with the Spartans and their allies. Podlecki examines the wealth of sources and documentation on Perikles to provide a lucid account of the achievements of the man, which is both comprehensive and eminently readable.

About the Author

Anthony J. Podlecki was educated at Holy Cross College, Oxford University and the University of Toronto. He taught at Northwestern University and Pennsylvania State University before joining the staff of the University of British Columbia in 1975. He has translated various Greek tragedies and has written several books on Athenian history.