History of the Peloponnesian War · Character

Pericles

Athens' first citizen, whose measured strategy and unmatched oratory held the democracy together in the war's opening years.

major

First appearance: Book I

As a major figure in History of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Prominent Athenian leader whose policies and funeral oration set the stage for Athenian strategy and ideals.

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Pericles leads Athens at the height of its power, urging a defensive strategy of walls, fleet, and patience against Sparta's superior land army. His authority rests on persuasion rather than force, and Thucydides treats his speeches as the clearest statement of Athenian ideals and self-interest. When he dies early in the war, Athens loses the one man capable of restraining its impulses, and the city's subsequent drift toward recklessness becomes the book's central tragedy.

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Character Web

8 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Persian Wars Figures
Spartan and Athenian Leaders
Diverse Figures of the War

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it captures the Athenians' fateful psychological peak of hubris…

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In the story

Pericles appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

History of the Peloponnesian War
Prominent Athenian leader whose policies and funeral oration set the stage for Athenian strategy and ideals.
Book I
Appears at the end of Book I, delivering a speech in Athens urging the city to prepare for war and not yield to Spartan demands.
Second Congress at Lacedaemon: Preparations for War and Diplomatic Skirmishes
Mentioned as being connected to the curse of Cylon on his mother's side; his political influence and opposition to Sparta are noted.
Book II
Delivers the Funeral Oration and leads Athenian strategy before his death from the plague.
VI
Athenian general who secures a decree to refuse Spartan embassies after they march, and delivers a funeral oration honoring the fallen.
VII
Mentioned in the chapter heading; his position and policy are referenced in the context of the plague and war strategy.

Chapter companion notes

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See Pericles in Book I

See Pericles in History of the Peloponnesian War