A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

PERICLES. PERICLES. 197
public edifices was entrusted to Pheidias, under object, of leading the Athenians to value highly
whose superintendence were employed his two their station and privileges as Athenian citizens,
pupils Alcamenes and Agoracritus, Ictinus and may doubtless be traced in the law which he got
Callicrates the architects of the Parthenon, Mne- passed at an early period, that the privileges of
sides the architect of the Propylaea, Coroebus the citizenship should be confined to those whose
architect who began the temple at Eleusis, Calli- parents were both Athenians; a law which was
machus, Metagenes, Xenocles and others. These called into exercise ill B. c. 444, on the occasion of
works calling into activity, as they did in various a present of corn being sent by Psammetichus from
ways, almost every branch of industry and com- Egypt, to be distributed among the Athenian
merce at Athens, diffused universal prosperity citizens. At the scrutiny which was set on foot
while they proceeded. Such a variety of instru- only about 14,000 were found to be genuine
ments and materials were now needed, that there Athenians, nearly 5000 being discovered to be
could hardly be an artisan in the city who would aliens. That he had not miscalculated the effect
not find scope for his industry and skill; and as likely to be produced on the minds of his fellowevery art required the services of a number of citizens, is shown by the interest and pride which
subordinate labourers, every class of the labouring they took in the progress and beauty of the public
citizens found employment and support. This, works. When it was a matter of discussion in the
however, though a most important object, and one assembly whether marble or ivory should be used
which Pericles had distinctly in view, was not.the in the construction of the great statue of Athene,
only one which he set before himself in this ex- the latter was selected, apparently for scarcely any
penditure. Independently of the gratification of other reason than that it was the more costly.
his personal taste, which in this respect accorded We have already seen that the bare idea of having
with that of the people, his internal and external their name disconnected with the works that
policy formed parts of one whole. While he raised adorned their city, was sufficient to induce them to
Athens to that supremacy which in his judgment sanction Pericles in his lavish application of the
she deserved to possess, on account both of the public treasures. Pity, that an expenditure so
natural capabilities of the people and the glorious wise in its ends, and so magnificent in its kind,
sacrifices which they had made for the safety and should have been founded on an act of appro
freedom not of themselves only but of Greece, the priation, which a strict impartiality cannot justify,
magnificent aspect which the city assumed under though a fair consideration of all the circumstances
his directions was designed to keep alive among of the age and people will find much to palliate it.
the people a present consciousness of their great- The honesty of the objections raised against it by
ness and power. (Comp. Demosth. Aristocr. p. the enemies of Pericles on the score of its injustice
63;9, Mid. p. 565.) This feature of his policy is is very questionable. The issue of the opposition
distinctly expressed in the speech delivered by him of Thucydides and his party has already been
over the slain in the first winter of the Pelopon- noticed.
siesian war, a speech equally valuable as an em- It was not the mere device of a demagogue
bodiment of his views, whether the sentiments anxious to secure popularity, but a part of a settled
contained in it be, as is most probable, such as he policy, which led Pericles to provide amusement
actually delivered, or such as his contemporary for the people in the shape of religious festivals
Thucydides knew him to entertain (Thucyd. ii. and musical and dramatic entertainments. These
35-46). He calls upon the survivors to resolve were at the same time intended to prepare the
that the spirit they cherish towards their enemies citizens by cheerful relaxation and intellectual
shall be no less daring than that of those who had stimulus for enduring the exertions necessary for
fallen; considering not alone the immediate benefit the greatness and well-being of the state, and to
resulting from repelling their enemies, but rather lead them, as they became conscious of the enjoythe power of the city, contemplating it in reality ment as well as dignity of their condition, as
daily, and becoming lovers (Eipao-rd) of it; and Athenian citizens, to be ready to put forth their
whenever it seems to them to be great, consider- most strenuous exertions in defending a position
ing that men acquired this magnificence by daring, which secured to them so many advantages.
and judging what was necessary, and maintaining (Thucyd. ii. 38, 40.) The impulse that would be
a sense of honour in action (c. 43). The design of given to trade and commerce by the increase of
his policy was that Athens should be thoroughly requirements on the part of the Athenians was
prepared for war, while it contained within itself also an element in his calculations (Thucyd. ii.
every thing that could render the citizens satisfied 38). The drama especially characterised the age
with peace; to make them conscious of their great. of Pericles [AEScHYLUS, SOPHOCLES; Dict. of
ness, and inspire them with that self-reliance and Ant. art. Comoedia, Trayoedia]. From the comic
elastic vigour, which was a surer safeguard than all poets Pericles had to sustain numerous attacks.
the jealous measures resorted to by the Spartans Their ridicule of his personal peculiarity could
(c. 36-39). Nothing could well be further from excite nothing more than a passing laugh, More
the truth than the estimate Plato formed of the serious attempts were made by them to render his
policy of Pericles, if he makes Socrates express his position suspicious in the eyes of the people. They
own views, in saying that Pericles made the exaggerated his power, spoke of his party as
Athenians idle, and cowardly, and talkative, and Peisistratids, and called upon him to swear that he
money-loving, by first accustoming them to receive was not about to assume the tyranny. Cratinus
pay (Gorg. p. 515, e.). The great object of threw out insinuations as to the tardiness with
Pericles was to get the Athenians to set before which the building of the third long wallto Peiraeeus
themselves a great ideal of what Athens and an proceeded. His connection with Aspasia was made
Athenian otrght to be. His commendations of the the ground of frequent sallies (Schol. ad Plat. p.
national characteristics partook quite as much of the 391, ed. Bekker; Plut. Per. 24). His high chanature of exhortation as of that of praise. This racter and strict probity, however, rendered all
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