Alcibiades and Athens: Who Shot First?

Alcibiades was without doubt the most controversial, extravagant, simultaneously loved and hated figure of the Peloponnesian War. He was brilliant, ruthless, eloquent, charming, and self-obsessed. Thucydides himself severely... [ view full abstract ]

Alcibiades was without doubt the most controversial, extravagant, simultaneously loved and hated figure of the Peloponnesian War. He was brilliant, ruthless, eloquent, charming, and self-obsessed. Thucydides himself severely criticised the Athenian democratic regime for forcing him to flee for his life on account of the serious, and possibly trumped up charge of impiety brought against him. Others believed that his untameable personality and endless ambition indeed posed a serious threat to Athenian democracy. How did Alcibiades, once Athens’ best hope for great leadership, become the man to mastermind Sparta’s victory over his native polis? In this presentation, we will explore key moments of his life and career, trying to extract valuable insights about his character, his aspirations, and his relationship with the city. Some of the questions that will be discussed are: Did Athens betray Alcibiades? Could Alcibiades have been both a traitor and a patriot? This presentation will be adapted from the second chapter of a Senior Thesis on the nature of Political Accountability in Classical Athens, as observed through the careers of Alcibiades, and other Athenian statesmen. The main sources will be Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War, and Plutarch’s Life of Alcibiades.