FREE ESSAY ON HOW PERICLES CHANGED ATHENS

HOW PERICLES CHANGED ATHENS

There are two important matters that the "Funeral Oration of Pericles" proves, these two
matters are, the great respect that Athenians have for their warrior class and how the
Athenians were exceedingly proud of their city and its customs. The following paper
discusses the way of life of Athenians and how the Funeral Oration of Pericles influenced
it. 
It is a well-known fact that the Athenians had a great deal of respect for the warrior
class and believed them to be among the top members of their society. The warriors were
seen as the top portion of their classes. They are classified as hero's and/ or idols.
The Athenians were also extremely proud of their city and its traditions. To the people
of Athens their country was at the top and there was no other country that could be
superior. The purpose of the funeral oration was not only to respect the departed but
also to reward the citizen's national pride and their passion to defend their country.
The oration was a eulogy that focuses on the prominence of Athens and her ancestors. A
member of the family gave the eulogy, generally it was a son if possible. It was required
by the law for the dissertation to have some necessary components. The speech had to be
in regard to the lives of both the deceased and the ancestors of the deceased. At the end
of the eulogy that Pericles gave he spoke in reference to the soldiers and the ancestors
of Athens. Although it seemed that he was not sure if he had an impact on the people and
he was unsure as to if he had been able to get through to the citizens of Athens. He
states, "My task is now finished. I have performed it to the best of my ability, and in
words, at least, the requirements of the law are now satisfied." (Thucydides, 109) The
speech recounted the significant life that the departed lived and the great achievements
that these people accomplished. Pericles spoke to the public about the soldiers who had
just died. He wanted the citizens to remember the soldiers but to forget about the
tragedy that had occurred. He wanted the soldier's lives to be remembered, not their
deaths. The speech helped the Athenians remember and appreciate what their ancestors have
died for and how mournful citizens should be proud that their friends and family died
defending the freedom of their country. The oration also had Athenians realise their
greatness; this greatness derives from the fact that Athenian warriors had more to fight
for. Athenian warriors fought not only for their country but also for their family,
friends and other communities in the city. These warriors have more to lose because they
are fighting for everyone in the city. It was during this time that possessions were
incredibly significant. Wars were usually fought over the gaining of land and each
country wanting as much land as possible. Soldiers were not afraid of dying during combat
in fact they believed it to be the most "honourable" way to die. It was due to this that
Athens was able to produce an enormous army and have a very prosperous standard of
living, without the harsh everyday training found in other city-states. 
The Speeches that were given at funerals would primarily talk about the ancestors of the
deceased and the lives they led. "And if our more remote ancestors deserve praise, much
more do our own fathers, who added to their inheritance, the empire that we now process,
and spared no pains to be able to leave their acquisitions to us of the present
generation." (Thucydides, 105) This statement shows that Pericles wanted to show more
about what the warriors have accomplished. Pericles wanted the people to know that they
did something significant not because of their ancestors but because of the lives they
led and the goals they set for themselves. He did however feel that their ancestors
should be given the honour that they deserved. During the war numerous soldiers died.
Pericles was given the honour to speak for those who lost family members in the war. The
speech Pericles gave was in reference to his father but it also touched upon the other
families who had died in the battle. Pericles wanted to console and raise the spirits of
the community. In his tribute to the warriors, Pericles spoke about the country and the
democracy that he and the community all belonged too. He claimed that it is the country
that produces the love the people have for it, and it is the country that encourages
soldiers to be proud to fight for the country and its people. Athens and it's people
accepted foreigners and outsiders into the country, however these people often had
difficulties adjusting to the way of life of Athenians. In most cases they learned
quickly of the pride that the Athenians held and eventually it grew inside them as well.

Pericles wanted the people to know that everyone was and should have been proud of Athens
and that the people will protect their country when necessary. The warriors, according to
Pericles, were seen as an example of how Athenians should live their lives. These
warriors were heroes in Athens due to the fact that they defended their country in war
and were not afraid to die for their country and it's people. Athenians set a goal for
themselves, they wanted to love and shield their state in all ways possible and they
wanted to choose the most honourable way to die, that being during battle. The reason
this way of death is seen to be so honourable is because it showed that the soldiers
fully loved their country and it meant that they had completed their goal. "And where the
rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens." (Thucydides, 109) 
In conclusion, it can be said that the Funeral Operation proved how important and
significant the warrior class was in Athens and how the people of Athens had a great
respect for their city and it's customs.