Question

Source #3 Pericles' Funeral Oration

"Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors’, but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the authorities and for the laws.… Then, again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries. Our city is thrown open to the world, though and we never expel a foreigner and prevent him from seeing or learning anything of which the secret if revealed to an enemy might profit him. We rely not upon management or trickery, but upon our own hearts and hands. And in the matter of education, whereas they from early youth are always undergoing laborious exercises which are to make them brave, we live at ease, and yet are equally ready to face the perils which they face…. We cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy; wealth we employ more for use than for show, and place the real disgrace of poverty not in owning to the fact but in declining the struggle against it. Our public men have, besides politics, their private affairs to attend to, and our ordinary citizens, though occupied with the pursuits of industry, are still fair judges of public matters; for, unlike any other nation, regarding him who takes no part in these duties not as unambitious but as useless, we Athenians are able to judge at all events if we cannot originate, and instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of action, we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all. . . . In short, I say that as a city we are the School of Hellas."

This is an excerpt of a funeral speech given by Pericles for a ceremony honoring those that died during the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. This excerpt is taken from the retelling of the event by the Greek historian Thucydides and may not be an exact quote, but is credited as being the foremost public statement made about Athens’s democracy during its existence and given by an eye witness.



3. Do you think it is acceptable for historians to use Thucydides’ account of Pericles’ speech as evidence of what was said by Pericles? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer: Yes it is acceptable for historians to use Thucydides’ account of Pericles’ speech as evidence of what was said by Pericles.

Explanation: Using Thucydides' account of Pericles' speech as evidence of what was said by Pericles is generally acceptable in the context of historical analysis, but it's important to approach it with some critical considerations. Thucydides, being a contemporary historian, provides valuable insights into the events of his time. However, there are a few factors to keep in mind:

Accuracy and Bias: Thucydides' account might not be an exact transcript of Pericles' words, as it's a retelling of an event that he witnessed. His own perspective, biases, and the passage of time could have influenced the way he depicted the speech.

Rhetorical Intent: Ancient speeches, especially those recorded by historians like Thucydides, often aimed to capture the essence of the speaker's message rather than providing verbatim accounts. These speeches were often crafted to convey certain ideas and messages to the audience, so they might contain elements of artistic license.

Contextual Understanding: It's important to understand the historical and cultural context of the time when assessing Thucydides' account. This helps in interpreting the speech accurately and understanding any nuances that might not be immediately apparent.

Corroboration: Ideally, historians seek to corroborate historical accounts using multiple sources whenever possible. In the absence of multiple sources, the reliability of a single account becomes more significant.