Analysis Of Pericles 'Peloponnesian War'

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5th century B.C Athens was undoubtedly one of the world’s pre-eminent societies. That it maintains such historical standing in the face of the dearth of period evidence makes its position all the more remarkable. Assessing this it is crucial to recognise that the available material and our own preconceptions influence our view of classical Athens. The only complete record at our disposal is Thucydides work “ The Peloponnesian War”. This is regarded as the foremost source on period Athenian life, of which it is acknowledged to provide an accurate and reliable representation. Within this history is recorded Pericles funeral oration. The importance of the speech’s orator Pericles cannot be overestimated. His legend is intertwined with the legacy …show more content…
Throughout his oration Pericles touches fleetingly, although accurately and reliably upon various values central to Athenian life. Most significantly he eulogises the love for Athens which all of its citizens exhibit, whilst subsequently directing how the pride that this patriotism fosters impels all citizens of Athens to control their own destiny through their own, unique form of governance.

In addressing patriotism Pericles points out that it is manifested in all aspects of Athenian society. He takes special care to emphasise that it is no ordinary patriotism which the citizens of Athens parade. Instead they maintain a deep love for their city. This can be paraphrased as Athinoastiphilia: a love of the city-state of Athens. Pericles presents the display of Athinoastiphilia through the …show more content…
However, this is unsurprising as the majority of those that remain are either tantalizingly incomplete or themselves penned in accordance with or drawn from Thucydides work. While widely recognized as the “second father of history” Thucydides acknowledged that “he found it difficult to remember the precise words used in the speech” this led him to “make the speakers say what, in [his] opinion, was called for in each situation”. Continuing this premise it is possible that the words said in the funeral oration were sculpted to suit his means. Various contemporary historians have discounted this assertion, insisting he “ took every possible care to find the truth” others counter that his view of Pericles was “surely too favorable”. Each provides valid arguments; nonetheless a significant point of conjecture remains. Whether the oration was recorded as it is presented –a form of motivational speech to the people of Athens? A call for further Athinoastiphilia and continued democracy, Or as a eulogy for classical Athens it self? The subject matter of the oration lends itself to either possibility. Yet the fact “ The Peloponnesian War” was almost certainly reworked towards the end of the war, as soon as the final result became clear means that there always remains an underlying element of doubt as to the orations exact provenance. Apart from Thucydides the other central classical historians also
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