PERICLES, the great Athenian states man; born in Athens about 495 B. C., of a noble, influential and wealthy family. He received a careful education from the most eminent teachers. He applied him self to the study of philosophy under the guidance of Anaxagoras. To his other acquirements he added that of extraor dinary eloquence, and thus prepared, he began to take part in public affairs about 469 B. C., and the popular party soon rec ognized him as their chief. He effected a great change in the constitution of the Areopagus, the stronghold of the aristo cratic party, by which its authority was much limited, and Cimon, the head of that party, was immediately ostracized. Pericles was great as a general, and he displayed extraordinary valor at the bat tle of Tanagra; he commanded the expe dition against Sicyon and Acarnania; recovered Delphi from the Spartans, and quelled the revolt of Eubcea. In 444 B. C. he became sole ruler of Athens. Under his administration the navy was in creased, commerce extended, general prosperity advanced, and Athens adorned with noble buildings. Phidias was the
friend of Pericles, and under his direc tion the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Odeon, and the other temples and monu ments, the admiration of all time, were erected. In 444 B. C. Pericles established a democratic constitution in Samos, ana a counter-revolution taking place, he be sieged the town, and after nine months reduced it. Pericles directed Athens during the first two years of the Pelopon nesian War, in the second year of which the plague broke out at Athens, and the popular discontent vented itself in the prosecution of the great ruler. He was fined, but soon regained his influence. The plague carried off many of his friends and relatives, and, last of all, his favorite son, Paralus. This loss broke his heart, and after a lingering sickness he died 429 B. C.. He left a son by Aspasia, who took his father's name, and was ultimately legitimated by the people.