What is the main point of Pericles funeral oration?
What is the main point of Pericles funeral oration?
The most important thing to remember about the Funeral Oration is that it is a speech, intended to persuade its listeners. Pericles praises Athens so that people will keep fighting; he praises the sacrifices of the dead so that others will imitate them.
What did Thucydides think of Pericles?
Thucydides fervently supported Pericles but was less enthusiastic about the institution of democracy. Under the hands of Pericles, Thucydides thought democracy could be controlled, but without him, it could be dangerous.
What does Pericles say about equality?
“If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences…if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition. The freedom we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life.
How does Pericles describe Athenian democracy?
Pericles describes Athenian democracy as a system of government where men advance on merit rather than on class or wealth. In a democracy, “class considerations [are not] allowed to interfere with merit” – any man capable enough to rule is allowed to do so.
What did Spartans value most?
The Spartans valued discipline, obedience, and courage above all else. Spartan men learned these values at an early age, when they were trained to be soldiers. Spartan women were also expected to be strong, athletic, and disciplined.
Why did Pericles build the Acropolis?
Pericles proposed a building program soon after the Greco-Persian wars, which had left much of Athens in ruins. The program’s chief aim was to restore various Athenian temples as a reminder of the hubris of the Persians.
Why is Pericles called the first citizen?
His influence on Athenian society, politics, and culture was so great that the historian Thucydides (l. 460/455 – 399/398 BCE), his contemporary and admirer, called him “the first citizen of Athens” (History, II.
What Pericles estimation are the benefits of democracy?
According to Pericles’ estimation, there are many benefits of democracy. Pericles funeral speech shows the power and value of Athens compared to its opponents. This correlates with the idea that everyone living under a democratic government has an equal chance. This is beneficial to the people of Athens.