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Alcibiades was born in Athens. The family of his father, Cleinias, [3] had old connections with the Spartan aristocracy through a relationship of xenia, and the name "Alcibiades" was of Spartan origin. [4] [5] Alcibiades' mother was Deinomache, the daughter of Megacles, head of the powerful Alcmaeonid family, and could trace her family back to ...
Apr 5, 2024 · Alcibiades (born c. 450 bce, Athens [Greece]—died 404, Phrygia [now in Turkey]) was a brilliant but unscrupulous Athenian politician and military commander who provoked the sharp political antagonisms at Athens that were the main causes of Athens’ defeat by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 bce ). Well-born and wealthy, Alcibiades ...
- Russell Meiggs
- Early Life
- The Sicilian Expedition
- Advising Sparta
- A Returning Hero
Alcibiades was born in 451/450 BCE, the son of the Athenian politician Cleinias, and his mother Deinomache was from the ancient aristocratic family the Alkmeonidai. Alcibiades was also the nephew of the great Athenian statesman Pericles, and he spent his childhood in the family home of his famous uncle. As a young man, he was the pupil and friend o...
In 415 BCE Alcibiades gave a speech to persuade the Athenians to launch a military expedition to Sicily. The pretext for this expedition occurred in 416/415 BCE when Segesta, a city-state in the west of Sicily, asked Athens for help against local rival Selinus which was allied with Syracuse. Besides imperialist ambition, Alcibiades may well have be...
Alcibiades made himself useful to his new hosts and, according to his accusers in Athens, he freely gave Athenian state secrets to the Spartans. He also advised the Spartans to take by force the Athenian fortress of Dekeleia (which they did in 413 BCE). Meanwhile, the Athenian expedition in Sicily was a complete disaster with total defeat in 414 BC...
In 407 BCE Alcibiades returned to Athens in triumph, the old charges against him were dropped, and as a reward for his efforts he was made strategos autokrater once again, but this time above all other generals, the only such instance in the history of Athens. In effect then, Alcibiades was now commander-in-chief of the Athenian armed forces. Quash...
- Mark Cartwright
Alcibiades, (born c. 450 bc, Athens—died 404, Phrygia), Athenian politician and commander. Pericles was his guardian, his father having died in battle. Alcibiades grew up without much guidance, but as a youth he was drawn to Socrates ’ moral strength and keen mind. Socrates, in turn, was attracted to the youth’s physical beauty and ...
Alcibiades' life was filled with controversy as he navigated the turbulent seas of ancient Greek politics with an unmatched dexterity. Born into Athenian nobility and a student of the great philosopher Socrates, he became a pivotal player in the Peloponnesian War, shifting allegiances with a flair that kept friend and foe alike on their toes. His life was a whirlwind of military triumphs ...
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Sep 17, 2019 · Alcibiades was a controversial politician and warrior in ancient Greece, who switched allegiances between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and was eventually lynched by a mob for it. He was a student and lover of Socrates, and one of the youths that Socrates' accusers used as an example of his corrupting young men. Learn more about his life, education, political career, military achievements, and death.
Jan 7, 2021 · Learn about Alcibiades, a famous orator, general and strategist who became one of the most important figures of the Peloponnesian War. Discover his rise to power, his relationship with Socrates, and his role in the war's intrigues and conquests.
