Exam 3

  • Introduction to the Peloponnesian War

    • Edited by Robert B. Strassler, featuring maps, annotations, and an index

  • Athenian Funeral Customs (431 BC)

    • Athenians held a public funeral for the first war casualties.
    • Pericles delivered the first funeral oration, a custom rooted in ancestral tradition.
    • Key elements of the ceremony included:
    • Preparation: Bones of the dead displayed in a tent three days prior.
    • Cypress Coffins: Each tribe carried a coffin for their own dead, with an empty bier for those missing in action.
    • Public Participation: Any citizen could join the procession, including female relatives.
    • Burial Site: The deceased were buried in a prestigious location, honoring their service.

  • Content of Pericles' Funeral Oration

    • Addressing the Challenge: Pericles acknowledges the difficulty of adequately praising the dead but respects the custom.
    • Praise for Ancestors: He emphasizes the valor of the ancestors who bequeathed freedom to Athens.
    • Those who died at Marathon are honored for their extraordinary valor.
    • Praises for Current Heroes: Recognition of those who fought to protect and expand Athenian greatness.
    • Description of Athenian Democracy:
    • Athens' government provides equal justice and allows citizens to rise based on merit, not status.
    • Overview of political freedom and the ease of private life under Athenian democracy.
    • Unique Military Culture:
    • Opposition to policies restricting foreigners; training does not rely solely on rigorous discipline.
    • Emphasis on natural courage and readiness to face danger without constant preparation.

  • Societal Values Preserved in War

    • Importance of public participation in governance; every citizen's involvement is crucial.
    • Athenians are encouraged to balance personal affairs and civic duties.
    • Pride in Culture and Wealth:
    • Wealth utilized sensibly; luxury is not emphasized over utility.
    • Present enjoyment is deemed honorable amidst uncertainty of life.

  • Call to Action for Survivors:

    • Pericles exhorts Athenian citizens to uphold the valor of the dead.
    • The unique opportunity to display strength and honor in service to their country.
    • He emphasizes courage over cowardice, urging survivors to remain steadfast.

  • Consolation for Families of the Fallen:

    • Offers comfort to the bereaved, urging them to focus on the glory of their fallen relatives.
    • States that Athens will take care of the children left behind by the deceased.
    • Legacy of the Fallen:
    • The glory of the deceased immortalized through honorable death.

  • Subsequent Events of the War (430 BC)

    • Spartans invade Attica, and a devastating plague begins to spread in Athens.
    • Thucydides narrates his own experience with the plague and its horrors:
    • Symptoms included fever, sore throat, lethargy, and a painful course leading to a high mortality rate.
    • Despair ensued among those afflicted, with a notable effect on their capacity to resist the illness.
    • Conditions worsened due to overcrowding and lack of proper burial practices as mortality rates heightened.
    • The plague sparked a change in societal norms, leading people to seek immediate pleasures over traditional values due to the sense of impending doom.
    • Reflections on omens and oracles were prevalent as Athenians tried to make sense of the crisis amidst warfare.