Athens or Sparta
Main Ideas of Thucydides: (c.460/455-c.399 BCE): Pericles' Funeral Oration
from the Peloponnesian War (Book 2.34-46)
Pericles' funeral oration is a speech written by Thucydides during a portion of the Peloponnesian War. Pericles gives this speech not only to bury the dead, but to praise democracy. The Funeral Oration is significant because the speech differs from the normal Athenian funeral speeches given. The speech is a glorification of Athens' achievements and apperciation for those who dedicate their lives to the protection of athens. The speech was also designed to light the spirits of the people in athens due to the war that started shortly before the speech was given.
Direct Quote Break Down
The Quote
“Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighbouring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favours the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if no social standing, advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity, class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition. The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life.”
Perciles says
•Democracy allows men to advance because of merit instead of wealth or inherited class.
•In a democracy, citizens behave lawfully while doing what they like without fear of prying eyes.
•In a democracy, there is equal justice for all in private disputes.
Athenian Democracy
The speech begins by Pericles honoring the funeral but then critizes the notion of giving a speech at the funeral because the speaker has an impossible job of satisfying the people assocated with the deceased. He says that the reputations of these brave men should not be ruined by any person talking poorly of them due to the fact they lost there life for the well being of all athenians.
The Break Down
Athens was one of the first known democracies and in this quote perciles is taking pride in the spread of there political standpoint as well as reminding the people of athens what democracy stands for and suggest that these governing laws can apply to everyday life in athens.
Group speculation
Thucydides admits his speeches are only loosely based on memory and shouldn't be taken as a reliable report for the events during the war and many believed that Thucydides changed certain events to better fit his collection. However, I feel this one to be done with a little more accuracy than most people give him credit for. My reasoning is that even though Thucydides adored Pericles he was not very fond of democracy. So to say that he fabricated this piece of writing would sound silly because its main focus is gloryifing democracy.,