History 1001
Wai Yin Chung
Plutarch, Pericles
1. Damon, the sophist of the highest value who used his musical teaching as a screen to conceal his real talents from the world taught Pericles music. Zeno who had perfected a technique of cross examination to enable him to corner his opponent by the method of question and answer also taught Pericles natural philosophy. Anaxagoras, who had extraordinary intellectual powers displayed in the investigation of natural phenomena was most closely associated with Pericles, what he taught made Pericles’s mine became steeped in higher philosophy and abstract speculation. It led Pericles derived not only a dignity of spirit and a nobility of utterance but also a voice to impress audience.
2. Pericles skill with words made him famous in Athens while he was still a young man. He seldom social with friends, rarely did him appear in public, and only on the most important occasions. Then, when he spoke to the people, his words were like thunder and lightning. The Parthenon and all of the famous statues and buildings of Athens were paid for using the money that had been collected from the Greek allies to finance the war against the Persians. The aristocrats in Athens objected to such use of the money, But Pericles responded that the Athenians could do, there were enough military supplies, so it was proper to spend the surplus on buildings that would give Athens eternal honor and create jobs As the work was in progress, Thucydides and the aristocrats managed to get a vote that the expense was excessive. Pericles then said to the Athenians: "Then let the cost go to my account." After hearing this, the Athenians changed their minds and ordered Pericles to go ahead and to spare no expense. An ostracism was called, and Thucydides was the victim. Hence Pericles had undisputed authority as the greatest man in Athens. He became a commander and gained popularity from the public. As Pericles never used his power to gain his...