Pericles’s Funeral Oration and Greek Society

Pericles’s funeral oration was given to honor the soldiers lost in war by commemorating the military accomplishments of the Athens government and to distinguish the roles of men and women in Athens society. Pericles’s speech was given in 430 B.C.E at the end of the first year of war. He then died a year late in 429 B.C.E. Pericles’ Funeral Oration is included in Thucydides’ writing titled History of the Peloponnesian War.

Pericles gave a few reasons for giving this funeral oration. The main purpose Pericles gave his speech was to praise the Athenian war dead. For example, in the speech he states, “When men’s deeds have been brave, they should be honored in deed only and with such honor as this public funeral”. He goes on to explain in the speech that a friend of the dead who knows all the facts is more likely to think that the words of the speaker are not good enough or do not meet their expectations. Although a listener that does not know the dead will be envious of anything that surpasses his own powers or knowledge. He gives reasoning for this in the speech by stating, “Mankind are tolerant of the praises of others so long as each hearer thinks he can do as well or nearly as well himself, but, when the speaker rises above him, jealousy is aroused and he begins to be incredulous”. His speech was also meant to be a tribute to the city of Athens and the way of life there. Pericles wanted to convince the people of Athens that their city is worth dying for. To do this he talks about the ancestors and how their land has been passed down from generation to generation.

Athens government and military is considerably different from their neighbors. According to Pericles, Athens government is not a copy of our neighbors...

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...sidered not respected are usually noncitizens or freedwomen. They enjoy the freedom and the diversity of different occupations such as selling things, and flute playing. Many not respected women in society turn to prostitution for work.

Pericles’s speech honored the war dead at this public funeral by commemorating their government and military accomplishments. Thucydides recorded the speech because he only recorded the things he believed to be the true account of something that happened in society.

Works Cited

USM History Department. Envisioning World Civilization. Thomson-Wadsworth Custom Publishing, 2006. 75-78. Print.

Upshur, Jiu-Hwa, Janice J. Terry, Jim Holoka, Richard D. Goff, and George H. Cassar. Thomson advantage Books World History. Compact 4th edition ed. Vol. Comprehensive volume. Belmont: Thompson Wadsworth, 2005. 107-109. Print.