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The Rise and Fall of Athens. Translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert. Marmondsworth, Middlesex and New York: Penguin Books, 1960

Possible Readings Journal Topics

Anything modern the reading reminds you of. . . .

Can be something out there in the public sphere: the world of politics, business, news, etc.
Something that relates more closely to your life, maybe someone you know/knew who reminds you of Themistocles, that kind of thing. . . .

A variation on 1.a. above: David Brooks, writing in the New York Times a few years back, wondered in print whether the next president should be like Themistocles:

"Leonidas led the Spartans at Thermopylae, and as anybody who's seen '300' can tell you, he had all the qualities of a perfect movie hero. He was brave, straightforward and self-sacrificing.

"But it's worth pointing out that Leonidas didn't win the Persian Wars. Themistocles did, and Themistocles had an altogether different set of qualities. He was not straightforward; in fact, he could be deceptive and manipulative. He was not self-sacrificing; there was an air of corruption and fierce ambition about him. He was not charming or cultured; historians from Herodotus on down have had trouble warming to him."

And so on — read further here: NYT 25 March 2007.

Let me put that to you as a question. Is there a place for a leader like Themistocles in today's USA? Would you welcome such a leader? Why? Why not?

Plutarch's Themistocles: Biographical-Historical Background

Themistocles was an important democratic leader and statesman. He urged Athenians to build a strong navy, and led that navy at the Battle of Salamis in 480. As a democratic leader, he was opposed by those favoring the interests of the wealthier classes at Athens. Notable among his opponents was Aristides, nicknamed the "Just."

Ostracism: A procedure whereby powerful figures felt to be a threat to the state could be sent into exile (though without loss of citizenship or property) for ten years. In practice, it was a way of getting one's political enemies out of the way. Themistocles used it against his rivals, but it was also used against him.

Athenians voted by writing on ostraka: broken bits of pottery
A minimum of 6,000 votes was needed for the ostracism to take effect

Time Line

ca. 528 Themistocles born
- Athenian eupatrid (noble) father. (Plutarch suggests an undistinuished background for Themistocles. But Plutarch seems there to have in mind ancestors supposedly lacking political or similar distinction, not a lack of noble bloodlines)
- Foreign mother (Thracian? Carian?)
- Note that this is all before Pericles' citizenship legislation of 451 - still OK for citizens to be of mixed background
493/2 Themistocles chief archon at Athens
490-479 Persian War (Persia tries to conquer mainland Greece - fails)
482 Ostracism of Aristides
480 Recall of banished citizens, including Aristides
480 Battle of Salamis (Greek fleet under Athenian leadership destroys Persian fleet in waters off Attica)
- Athenian forces led by Themistocles, one of the ten strategoi ("general") Athenians elected every year
478/7 Formation of the Delian League.
- Athens takes over from Sparta leadership of the ongoing fight against Persia. Sources do not seem to link Themistocles in particular to the formation of the league. The great admiral Cimon was, though, its chief commander from 476 until 463.
478-476 Fortification of Athens and its port
- An impregnable Athens represents threat to other states
- Supported by Aristides, opposed by Sparta
ca. 472-471 Ostracism of Themistocles
- Themistocles at Argos, other states
- Ends up governor of a Persian province
- Condemned in absentia at Athens
ca. 462 Themistocles dies

Political Developments (during/around Themistocles' time)

See also the "Brief Sketch of Athenian Democracy, ca. 461-404 BCE" on the "Early Political Theory and Practice" study guide.

487/6 BCE. The nine archons (chief officials of state) henceforth elected by lot (chance) from a pool of 100 candidates chosen probably by vote. Promotes honesty in office but not ability.

487/6 BCE. Because the polemarch archon ("commander in chief") now chosen by lottery, the 10 generals (strategeoi) elected by the tribes now the de facto chief military and civil officials.

Cleisthenic/post-Cleisthenic period (?). Institution of ostracism, which see above. To the extent that ostracism may originally have been intended to protect the constitution against coups, tyrants, etc., it will have lessened the powers of the venerable Areopagus Council, traditionally, the protectors of the state's institutions.

490s, 478-6. Under Themistocles, fortification of Athens and its port, and the creation of a mighty navy, put Athens in a position to build a maritime empire, which it eventually will do.

477. Foundation of the Delian League. In the aftermath of the Persian Wars, the "hegemony" (leadership) of Greece in its ongoing struggle against Persia shifts from Sparta to Athens. Athens organizes a league of poleis (city states) we call the "Delian League" (i.e., centered on the island of Delos). This will become the basis on which Athens will build its empire.

Issues, Questions

General

Sleuth out . . .

motivations
means
moral evaluations/attitudes

. . . with regard to the private and public life - the actions, policies, and peitho - of Themistocles.

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