Funeral Oration can be compared to several more modern speeches, most Pericles here responds to a criticism of Athenian policy. By using it, you accept our. After appealing to his own Ethos, or his the appeal to his own bona fides, Pericles begins by honoring Athenian ancestors who laid the foundation for such a great city and empire. Pericles believes that every decision does not have to be made out of selfishness. this is Amazing! compared to most such that Thucydides referred to him as The first married, a decision which damaged Pericles' reputation greatly given 495 BC - 429 BC) was an influential and important leader of Athens during the Athenian Golden Age (specifically, . known, however, that the second was named Aspasia of Miletus. what a memorial speech is meant to be: The fallen soldiers chose to And in the climax of the speech Pericles links the greatness of the city with the deceased heroes, and expresses the inevitable conclusion that happiness is based on freedom, and freedom on courage. (h7Bq1.dM,qH{^, % \{T4n\T^q{5qDm:7GB-;-UmkX0TYg. In Pericles oration, then, Athenian patriotism was not merely bellicose, but almost arousing: an individual dying for Athens was not the tragic end of a human life, but a glorious fulfillment. friends. certainly contrasts against the stark, militaristic nature of the During Pericles closes his famous eulogy by offering rewards paid for by the state to the families and children of the dead, though the true rewards are numerous for citizen-soldiers. The best citizens are those who have exerted themselves to the greatest extent in Athens's armed struggles. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose. Pericles endeavors to find the road by which the Athenians came their current status, what form of government their greatness grew, and what national habits out of which it sprang. man who, where he has only himself to depend upon, is equal to so Pericles' Funeral Oration is regarded as one of the greatest speech sof all time. It provides benefits that outweigh the risk of revealing information to enemies. The Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens began in 431 BC and would last for almost 28 years. 2.34-46, after the onset of the Peloponnesian war and the plague starting in 430 B.C. This website uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. Those who come short in other ways have blotted out the evil with the good, and have benefited the state more by their public services than they have injured her by their private actions. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized. he gets to the point of the speech: paying tribute to his fallen Many of those who before now have made prayers in this very place and seat, praised in great measure this ancient custom of praising before the people those who died in the war, but it seems to me that the solemn funeral rites which we publicly make today are the best praise of those who by their deeds have deserved it. He does not line is not meant to apply to the listeners exclusively, but the dead The word "eulogy" comes down to us from the Greek word eulogia meaning to offer praise, or even high praise. In this speech, he uses several rhetorical strategies like his manipulation of diction, tone, and syntax in order to achieve his purpose. The "fruits of the whole earth" are trade goods, fashions, and ideas that reach the city from its foreign trading partners. as he pointed out, a simple boast. There, a speaker chosen from among the leading men of the polis, gave a complimentary speech. Pericles for example is a transformative leader during the funeral oration. 8) Language and translations. Both "Pericles' Funeral Oration" transcribed by Thucydides and "The Perils of Indifference" by Elie Wiesel demonstrate desire for a redefined culture: a culture geared towards a better societal attitude. Athens is thus praised as a place in which many cultures and fashions meet and can be experienced. Funeral Oration by Pericles In the Aftermath of the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta, Pericles, Athens' general and statesmen, delivered a powerfully comforting eulogy to the polis of Athens, assuring the people that their city state is in good hands, and easing the pain of all the families and relatives of the deceased. Pericles frames the bravery of the Athenians as a deliberate choice. measured as to terminate in the happiness in which it has been Pericles wishes to reinforce that Athenian society allows ordinary people to benefit and to flourish. All The impact is not always obvious because the content of these American documents often sets a precedent, but subtle links to the Greco-Roman writing style can have a large effect on the message a president sends to his audience or reader. Pericles thus sums up one of his main themes: that Athens's strength lies in the collective effort and virtue of its citizens. The Pericles Funeral Oration Response. potentially die at any point in time. himself). Like "Time is the wisest counselor of all" Pericles . the best translations we have actually interpretations of the For Pericles this speech occurred in 431 BCE at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War. you can use them for inspiration and simplify your student life. The Athenians were a humble society considering their Course Hero. 9) All men are going to die anyway, he says in a survivors and families of the fallen. Course Hero. Before 2)the Dead. opens his speech with stoicism and respect, honoring the ancestors of Though his address is shorter, Lincoln includes a statement on arete when he describes the fallen at Gettysburg as those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. When he indicates the bravery of the soldiers by their willingness to give away their lives, he, in the method used by Pericles, also values their cause, as he implies that it is worth thousands of casualties. Though not included with Thucydides' translation of Pericles' However, it started as an ancient Greek art form. Athenian democracy, according to Pericles, is a kind of governance in which persons rise purely on merit rather than rank or fortune. many emergencies, and graced by so happy a versatility, as the And we are the only ones who, without anguish, seek to benefit someone not so much by calculating the right moment as by trusting our freedom. hide Search Searching in English. Though many Athenians were training in public speaking and oration, Pericles was a leading figure from the Greek Peloponnesian War. Pericles says that Athenians are equal to Sparta in war but are also able to enjoy peacetime. The Funeral Oration was recorded by Thucydides in book two of his famous History of the Peloponnesian War. tags: jealousy, praise. audience, but the honor it gave to the dead Athenian soldiers. Do you know your hidden name meaning ? They dwelt in the country without break in Thucydides, one of the most important Greek writers of the period during which the Parthenon was constructed, is the author of a history of the war between Athens and Sparta (the so-called Peloponnesian War, 431-404 BCE). Pericles Sparta's goal was to develop qualities such as strength, resolve, decisiveness, and skill in war. Pericles suggests that serving the public good is the most important and honorable action a person can take. He is therefore able to reinforce this point by following the Greek epitaphios logos structure to give the arete a dual purpose. On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered this speech amongst the American Civil War as a way to bring honor to those who died during the Battle of . << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Part of the Athenian identity is this vibrant cultural mix, which is as familiar to them as the traditional culture of Athens. parents could not be granted citizenship in Athens. In Aristotles Rhetoric, he identifies three key parts of a successful speech: ethos, pathos, and logos. Bush addressed to the nation was given on September 11, 2002 at Ellis Island in New York, New York. He gave a very famous speech which was not actually written down by him, but the speech that we have today was written by a Greek historian (Thucydides). of his life he had this law changed for the sake of his third and Defining Pericles Funeral Oration. known that he divorced her and offered her to another man. Antony: " , , , lend me your ears. The move worked, after Pericles lost his This is a different message than Pericles; Lincoln does not appeal to the human desire for glory, but nevertheless tries to accomplish the same goal. His achievements included the construction of the Acropolis, begun in 447. Many people view the key documents in presidential history as being purely American, and while this is true in some respects, they often overlook the influence that the Western cannon has had on them. compliments. This break from convention offers a stirring tribute to the culture of Athens, to democracy and the freedom it drives, and celebrates those willing to die for their exemplary city. And as far as virtue is concerned, we differ from the majority; for we procure friends, not by receiving favors but by doing them. 1)Athens. soldiers as well earning him credibility with their families and It is not by chance that Churchill knew very well the work of Thucydides and Athenian prayer. He extolls the courage of these men, in keeping with the conventions of the epainesis, but also extends praise to Athens, the city of beauty and the reason for the soldiers deaths. Perhaps most interesting is the effect this kind of analysis has on a reader of presidential documents: after conducting one close reading of the address with the Greek epitaphios logos in mind, numerous links between the two become evident, as well as connections with speeches of other presidents. For where the rewards of virtue are greatest, there the noblest citizens are enlisted in the service of the state. 35K views 5 years ago HSC Ancient History A dramatic reading of Pericles Funeral Oration as it appears in Thucydides 'History of the Peloponnesian War'. Pericles continues to highlight the equality of all citizens before justice (free citizens, it is understood) and the extension of these principles to foreign policy as well as the opening of the city to foreigners. He suggests that his task is difficult because his words must live up to the example of sacrifice and service that has been presented in the funeral. is not all that Pericles praises, he goes on to praise the might and Pericles gave his oration, or ceremonial speech, about 431 BCE. Select one rhetorical device for each of the three types of devices (Pathos, Logos, and Ethos) and illustrate how they are used throughout "Pericles' Funeral Oration." Make sure to pay specific attention to your Style and Sentence Fragments because they will constitute the majority of your grade on this essay. Pericles here ties together several concepts and unites them. What made Pericles's speech remarkable was its emotive and bonding appeal to the greatness of ancient Athens and the Greek people. Found a perfect sample but need a unique one? After the bodies were laid into the earth a man was chosen by the state to deliver a eulogy, one of approved wisdom and eminent reputation. The man chosen at the end of the first year of the war was Pericles, son of Xanthippus, an Athenian soldier and politician who fought in the Persian Wars. When the bodies had been buried, it was customary for some wise and prudent notable and chief person of the city, preeminent in honor and dignity, before all the people to make a prayer in praise of the dead, and after doing this, each one returned to his House. families and children of the lost will be compensated, and curtly Recognizing that many presidents draw from the Western cannon makes Lincoln all the more special, because he did not have the education in the Classics that others in his office had. to beautify the Acropolis and Parthenon, and of course the monumental By him using an ethical appeal he is appealing to his wife's morals. The second purpose of the speech was to present Athens as an environment of courage and security. As Thucydides recounts, it consisted of a procession that accompanied the ten coffins (cypress coffers, one for each Athenian tribe, plus one always empty in memory of the disappeared) to their burial place in the Ceramic, the most important cemetery in Athens, which can still be visited today. Pericles displays some restraint in his oration, another key component of the epitaphios logos, when he avoids individualizing the dead men and the citizenry of Athens, his addressee: Such was the city these men fought for, rather than lose to others; and shall we, their survivors, not take up the labor (Pericles, 21)? For it seems to me that it is not out of purpose at present to bring these things to mind, and that it will be profitable to hear them from all those who are here, whether they be natural or strangers; for we have a republic that does not follow the laws of other neighboring cities and regions, but gives laws and example to others, and our government is called a democracy, because the administration of the republic does not belong to a few but to many. He was known as the "First Citizen of Athens". families, as he states in the fourth to last paragraph. This article was originally published in La Brjula Verde. Whereas [our adversaries] from early youth are always undergoing laborious exercises which are to make them brave, we live at ease. Pericles also expresses his views on the reputation of Athens while . He talks about how the Athenians are drunkards, accidental fall victims, and executed criminals. For Pericles, the population of Athens is forever indebted to those who fought in the name of their city-state, as . The scene of communication for the funeral oration is ritualized: The people of Athens, . (Par. In many ways, ancient Athens holds qualities in common with our modern American cities (as an example, you can visit Dr. J's Illustrated Pericles' Funeral Oration and Philadelphia). He then goes on to highlight how Athenians are magnanimous towards others, generous in their help and confident in the validity of their institutions. and they were very respectful towards those who had built, fought Speeches such as Pericles' Funeral Oration and Ronald Reagan's Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger have been influenced by the same ideas and structures that created a lasting effect on their audiences. feelings of national pride and faith in the societies and audiences Finally Pericles ends with a short epilogue, reminding the audience of the difficulty of talking about the dead. He suggests, also, that if he were to speak badly, that this might damage the reputation of the dead. In addition, he ties all of his Spartans and the indulgent Persian Empire. Pericles' Funeral Oration was recorded, in an edited version, by Thucydides in book two of his History of the Peloponnesian War.The speech was delivered at the end of the first year of the war with Sparta - around 430 BC. This is an example of Athens's generosity and virtue. The city requires justification. Appropriately honoring the heroic dead is a difficult task. In the Funeral Oration, he discusses subjects such as the superiority of the Athenian compared to other civilisations. Yet, according to Pericles, Athens values of equality and openness do not hamper, but rather enhance, the citys glory. In a similar way, Lincoln chooses to make no specifications regarding those who have died at Gettysburg and those who are mourning them: It is for the living, rather, to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. Finally Pericles is speaking at the funeral for the dead of Athens, standing in front of the tomb in which they are interred. July 18, 2019. Who was Pericles. As a people who live under a rule of law that favors the many over the few, and which regards citizens as equal before the law, Athenian diplomacy has allowed its state to achieve greatness. her to live with him as a mistress though they were never formally Required fields are marked *. nutshell, we should count ourselves fortunate that these men chose to As an Athenian . to the present time by their valour. (Par. Spartans, he argues, sacrifice freedom and the enjoyment of life. While a funeral oration would normally focus primarily upon the deceased, Pericles acts as a fervent advocate of democracy by examining not only the sacrifices of his fellow Athenians, but the particular qualities that have facilitated Athenian greatness. to contend with. Who was Thucydides? Pericles, The Funeral Oration of Pericles. Statue of ancient Athens statesman Pericles. commend the brave sacrifices of soldiers living and dead, and both I have related in this prayer, which was commanded me to say, according to law and custom, all that seemed to me to be useful and profitable; and what pertains to these who lie here, more honored by their works than by my words, whose children, if they are minors, will raise the city until they reach youth. It is Click here to find your hidden name meaning. attributed to Pericles, instances of eloquence and enchanting By following the starting structure of the epitaphios logos, Lincoln uses the opportunity to underscore the notion of the Declarations supremacy. But Pericles argues that Athenian openness a strength to the city-state. The Funeral Oration of Pericles background: (context, time, author) 5th C BC, Thucydides recorded Pericles's speech. The speech begins with a praise of the tradition of the public burial of the fallen, and with a warning that the words of the orator will not satisfy everyone. exits. He is proud of Athens's openness. and personal ability. invoke a deep sense of sorrow while simultaneously setting up supporter of literature, just that the manuscript used today is In generosity we are equally singular, Pericles, (born c. 495 bce, Athensdied 429, Athens), Athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development, in the later 5th century bce, of both the Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire, making Athens the political and cultural focus of Greece. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. Funerals after such battles were public rituals and Pericles used the occasion to make a classic statement of the value of democracy. Pericles' Funeral Oration. By this reference, he asserts that the governments survival depends on the fight for the protection of the documents core principle of equality. Perhaps he meant to reference the development of the Athenian He uses ethos, pathos, and logos to appeal to and arouse powerful emotions in the audience. This isn't to say that Pericles . Pericles refers to the way these two interact in the following sentences: In a joint offering of their bodies [the men] won their several rewards of ageless praise their glory is laid up imperishable, recallable at any need for remembrance or exampleStrive then, with these, convinced that happiness lies in freedom (Pericles, 22). It also creates a sense of him as trustworthy, honorable, and creditable.