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Pericles-Fabius Maximus Chapter 4 Pericles-Fabius Maximus 4.1 Introduction In Pericles-Fabius Maximus, Plutarch joined two statesmen who enjoyed long careers during which they encountered a wide array of political and military challenges. Pericles was active in the political arena for over thirty years— beginning in the mid-460s and extending to his death in 429—while Fabius played an active role in Roman politics from the 230s until his death in 203 BC. During their careers, Athens and Rome faced extraordinary threats, and the survival of these cities was generally attributed to the firm leadership and foresight of these two leaders. By tying their achievements to the moral character and critical strategic decisions that produced them, Plutarch provid- ed lessons in behaviors readers should imitate or avoid—the objective stated in the Prologue to the pair. Per-Fab is well suited to launch our examination of the Parallel Lives as prag- matic biography. First, of all the sets of Lives, this pair provides the broadest overlap with the exempla of good statesmanship in the Moralia. As shown in Table 4.1, Pericles is mentioned nearly forty times in the Moralia, largely in the context of his role as leader in Athens. He is used fourteen times to il- lustrate principles of leadership in Political Precepts1 and is a prominent exam- ple of why old men should stay active in public affairs in Old Men in Politics.2 Fabius, in turn, illustrates excellent generalship and constructive approaches for old men to engage the young and train them for public service.3 Secondly, as noted above in Chapter 3, both the Prologue and synkrisis to Per-Fab praise the men for their political and military achievements. In the Prologue (Per. 2.4), Pericles and Fabius are applauded for their mildness (πρᾳότητα) and justice (δικαιοσύνην)—virtues emphasized in the Moralia as essential for men 1 Fourteen of the thirty-nine references to Pericles in the Moralia are in Political Precepts, and only three of these fourteen are absent from his Life. Alexander is the only statesman mentioned more often in the Moralia, which included two essays devoted exclusively to his achievements. 2 Pericles is mentioned in five different contexts in Old Men in Politics, second only to Cato Maior (seven). Phocion (three) and Agesilaus (two) and Solon (two) are also used as exempla in multiple contexts. 3 We will see Cato Minor performing the same role in different circumstances in Chapter 9. © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2�18 | doi 1�.1163/9789004276611_007 Pericles-fabius Maximus 129 Table 4.1 Pericles as exemplum in the Moralia and Pericles Topic Moralia Life of Pericles Political Precepts Changed habits in private life 800C 7.4 Democracy in name, rule of Pericles 801E 9.1 Story of Archidamus, Thucydides and Pericles 802C 8.4 Bidding Athenians to remove eyesore of Piraeus 803A 8.4 Pericles’ speech after the plague 803B Not mentioned Prayer before speech not to utter an extra word 803F 8.4 Pericles attacked by Simmias 805C 35.4 Pericles says he is “a friend as far as the altar” 808B Not mentioned Pericles avoided abusive speech to enemies 810C passim Pericles kept self for important matters 811C–D Delegated Pericles delegated to Menippus and Ephialtes 812D 9.4 Pericles divided power with Cimon 812E 10.4 Pericles reminded self he ruled free men/Greeks 813D–E Not mentioned Public acts to gratify the people 818D 12 - Acropolis Old Men in Politics Pericles to greatest power in old age (start of war) 784E 31.1–32.3 Stop Athenians from fighting in inopportune time 784E 33.3–34.1 Unseemly to urge Pericles, Cato or Phocion to retire 789B passim Don’t advise Pericles to leave democracy in lurch 790B–C passim Pericles’ eloquence inspired Demosthenes 795D Not mentioned On Inoffensive Self-Praise Pericles: “ I love my country and cannot be bought” 540C–D passim Pericles: “No Athenian put on mourning because of me” 543C 38.3 On Being Compliant Pericles: “As far as the altar, I am a friend.” 531C–D Not mentioned.
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