Aristides acts as a great introduction to the wars that made Athens great, the defensive wars against the Persian invaders, occurring between 490 and 479 BC. Plutarch admired Aristides immensely, so he serves as a great introduction to the standards Plutarch holds up for the other leaders he studies.
Parallel – Cato the Elder
Mini-Outline
His life pretty much follows the important events of the Persian Wars:
- Marathon – 490 BC
- Political Height
- eponymous archon
- ostracism (etymology!)
- Salamis – 480 BC
- Plataea Disaster – 479 BC
- Aftermath
- From defense to offense
- Rise of the Delian League
Important People
- Miltiades is the Athenian general at Marathon
- Themistocles is the Athenian mastermind behind Salamis
- Pausanias, the Spartan, leads at Plataea
Important Places
- Delphi –
- Marathon –
- Salamis –
- Plataea –
C. 1 – Rich Man, Poor Man
C. 2 – Friends and Rivals
C. 3 – Main Rival: Themistocles
C. 4 – The Just Man
C. 5 – Battle of Marathon
C. 6 – Justice and Divinity
C. 7. – Ostracism – General and Particular
C. 8 – Salamis – The Setup and Recall
C. 9 – Salamis – The Psyttaleia Strategy
C. 10 – Retreat to the Hellespont
C. 11 – Plataea – Aristides Leads the Athenians
C. 12 – Plataea – The Tegean Complaint
C. 13 – Plataea – Plots Uncovered
C. 14 – Plataea – Cavalry Skirmish
C. 15 – Plataea – Macedonian Information
C. 16 – Plataea – Battle Lines
C. 17 – Plataea – The Plan Fails
C. 18 – Plataea – Pausanias Prays
C. 19 – Plataea – Mardonius Slain and the Casualties Counted
C. 20 – Plataea – The Prize for Valor
C. 21 – Plataea – Thanksgiving to the Gods
C. 22 – Themistocles’ Plan Rejected
C. 23 – Athenian Hegemony
C. 24 – Taxes Set for the Hellenic League
C. 25 – Perjury and Poverty
C. 26 – Death and Defense from Ignominy
C. 27 – Tomb and Legacy
Helpful External Links
- Plutarch’s Life of Aristides – Bernadotte Perrin translation
- Aristides in Paint