Aristides was a member of a family of moderate fortune; his father's name was Lysimachus. Early in life he became a follower of the statesman Cleisthenes. He first came to notice as strategos in command of his native tribe Antiochis at the Battle of Marathon of 490 BC, and it was no doubt in consequence of the distinction which he then achieved that he won election as archon eponymos for the ensuing year (489–488). Pursuing a conservative policy to maintain Athens as a land power, he was one of the chief opponents of the naval policy proposed by Themistocles.[2]
According to Plutarch, the rivalry between Aristides and Themistocles began in their youth. The conflict between the two leaders ended in the ostracism of Aristides at a date variously given between 485 and 482. It is said that, on this occasion, an illiterate voter who did not recognise Aristides approached the statesman and requested that he write the name of Aristides on his voting shard to ostracize him. The latter asked if Aristides had wronged him. "No," was the reply, "and I do not even know him, but it irritates me to hear him everywhere called 'the Just'."[2] Aristides then wrote his own name on the ballot.[3]
Early in 480, Aristides profited by the decree recalling exiles to help in the defence of Athens against Persian invaders, and was elected strategos for the year 480–479. In the Battle of Salamis of September 480, he gave loyal support to Themistocles, and crowned the victory by landing Athenian infantry on the island of Psyttaleia and annihilating the Persian garrison stationed there.[2]
In 479, he was re-elected strategos, and given special powers as commander of the Athenian forces at the Battle of Plataea of August 479; he is also said to have suppressed a conspiracy among some in the army. He so won the confidence of the Ionian allies that, after they had revolted from the Spartan admiral Pausanias,[4] they gave him the chief command and left him with absolute discretion in fixing the contributions of the newly formed (478) confederacy, the Delian League. His assessment, universally accepted as equitable, continued as the basis of taxation for the greater part of the League's duration. He continued to hold a predominant position in Athens. At first he seems to have remained on good terms with Themistocles, whom he allegedly helped in outwitting the Spartans over the rebuilding of the walls of Athens.[2]
Some authorities state that Aristides died at Athens, others that he perished on a journey to the Black Sea; the date of his death is given by Nepos as 468. He lived to witness the ostracism of Themistocles, towards whom he always displayed generosity, but he died before the rise of Pericles. His estate seems to have suffered severely from the Persian invasions, for apparently he did not leave enough money to defray the expenses of his burial, and it is known that his descendants - even in the 4th century - received state pensions.[2]
Authorities
Answer of Aristides to the ambassadors of Mardonius.
Herodotus is not the only ancient author to evaluate Aristides' life. He is also the subject of one of Plutarch's Parallel Lives, although Plutarch, writing during the Roman Empire, was several centuries removed. Aristides is praised by Socrates in Plato's dialogues Gorgias and Meno as an exceptional instance of good leadership.[5][6]
In Plato's dialogue Theaetetus, Socrates refers to Aristides, the grandson of the famous Aristides, less positively, bringing him as an example of a student who leaves his care too soon and realizes later that he is a fool.[7]
^ abcdeOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Caspari, Maximilian Otto Bismarck (1911). "Aristides". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 494–495.
^ Nudell, Joshua P. (6 March 2023). "Orienting toward Athens and the Aegean System: 480-454". Accustomed to Obedience?: Classical Ionia and the Aegean World, 480–294 BCE. University of Michigan Press. p. 27. ISBN9780472133376. Retrieved 15 May 2023. Thucydides says that it was the Ionians as a group [...] who came to resent the violent [...] leadership of Pausanias and therefore requested that Athenians lead a new alliance that would better serve their interests, while [Aristotle] says that Aristides stoked the flames of frustration on the part of the Ionians after Pausanias' fall [...].
Macgregor Morris, Ian (2022). “Aristeides the Just?”, in A. Konecny & N. Sekunda (eds.) The Battle of Plataiai 479 BC (Vienna 2022) 133-49.
Proietti, Giorgia (2015). "War and Memory: the Battle of Psyttaleia Before Herodotus’ Histories", Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 58 (2015) 43– 54.
Torello, Giulia (2008). "The Resurrection of Aristeides, Miltiades, Solon and Perikles in Eupolis’ Demes", Antichthon 42 (2008) 40– 55.
Tuci, Paolo A. (2018). "Aristide 'imperialista' nell’Athenaion Politeia aristotelica", in C. Bearzot – M. Canevaro – T. Gargiulo – E. Poddighe (eds.), Athenaion Politeiai tra storia, politica e sociologia: Aristotele e Pseudo-Senofonte (Milan 2018) 231–251.
Zaccarini, Matteo (2020). "Aristide il Giusto e l’arche ateniese: la giustizia al potere", Rivista di Filologia e Istruzione Classica 148 (2020) 5–33.
External links
Plutarch's Life of Aristides in English Translation
Plutarch's Life of Aristides in English Translation at the Internet Classics Archive
aristides, first, kentucky, derby, winner, horse, other, people, named, disambiguation, deez, greek, Ἀριστείδης, translit, aristeídēs, attic, greek, aristěːdɛːs, ancient, athenian, statesman, nicknamed, just, δίκαιος, díkaios, flourished, early, quarter, athen. For the first Kentucky Derby winner see Aristides horse For other people named Aristides see Aristides disambiguation Aristides ˌ ae r ɪ ˈ s t aɪ d iː z ARR ih STY deez Greek Ἀristeidhs translit Aristeides Attic Greek aristeːdɛːs 530 468 BC was an ancient Athenian statesman Nicknamed the Just dikaios dikaios he flourished in the early quarter of Athens Classical period and is remembered for his generalship in the Persian War The ancient historian Herodotus cited him as the best and most honourable man in Athens 1 and he received similarly reverent treatment in Plato s Socratic dialogues An ostrakon bearing the name Aristeides son of Lysimachus displayed in the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens Contents 1 Biography 2 Authorities 3 Memorials and representations 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography Edit Aristides and the citizensAristides was a member of a family of moderate fortune his father s name was Lysimachus Early in life he became a follower of the statesman Cleisthenes He first came to notice as strategos in command of his native tribe Antiochis at the Battle of Marathon of 490 BC and it was no doubt in consequence of the distinction which he then achieved that he won election as archon eponymos for the ensuing year 489 488 Pursuing a conservative policy to maintain Athens as a land power he was one of the chief opponents of the naval policy proposed by Themistocles 2 According to Plutarch the rivalry between Aristides and Themistocles began in their youth The conflict between the two leaders ended in the ostracism of Aristides at a date variously given between 485 and 482 It is said that on this occasion an illiterate voter who did not recognise Aristides approached the statesman and requested that he write the name of Aristides on his voting shard to ostracize him The latter asked if Aristides had wronged him No was the reply and I do not even know him but it irritates me to hear him everywhere called the Just 2 Aristides then wrote his own name on the ballot 3 Early in 480 Aristides profited by the decree recalling exiles to help in the defence of Athens against Persian invaders and was elected strategos for the year 480 479 In the Battle of Salamis of September 480 he gave loyal support to Themistocles and crowned the victory by landing Athenian infantry on the island of Psyttaleia and annihilating the Persian garrison stationed there 2 Aristides warned by Alexander I of Macedon of the impending Persian attack at the Battle of Plataea 479 BCIn 479 he was re elected strategos and given special powers as commander of the Athenian forces at the Battle of Plataea of August 479 he is also said to have suppressed a conspiracy among some in the army He so won the confidence of the Ionian allies that after they had revolted from the Spartan admiral Pausanias 4 they gave him the chief command and left him with absolute discretion in fixing the contributions of the newly formed 478 confederacy the Delian League His assessment universally accepted as equitable continued as the basis of taxation for the greater part of the League s duration He continued to hold a predominant position in Athens At first he seems to have remained on good terms with Themistocles whom he allegedly helped in outwitting the Spartans over the rebuilding of the walls of Athens 2 Some authorities state that Aristides died at Athens others that he perished on a journey to the Black Sea the date of his death is given by Nepos as 468 He lived to witness the ostracism of Themistocles towards whom he always displayed generosity but he died before the rise of Pericles His estate seems to have suffered severely from the Persian invasions for apparently he did not leave enough money to defray the expenses of his burial and it is known that his descendants even in the 4th century received state pensions 2 Authorities Edit Answer of Aristides to the ambassadors of Mardonius Herodotus is not the only ancient author to evaluate Aristides life He is also the subject of one of Plutarch s Parallel Lives although Plutarch writing during the Roman Empire was several centuries removed Aristides is praised by Socrates in Plato s dialogues Gorgias and Meno as an exceptional instance of good leadership 5 6 In Plato s dialogue Theaetetus Socrates refers to Aristides the grandson of the famous Aristides less positively bringing him as an example of a student who leaves his care too soon and realizes later that he is a fool 7 Memorials and representations EditThere is a statue of Aristides in Louisburg Square in the American city of Boston An 1806 painting of Aristides by Charles Brocas fr is at the Musee des Augustins in the French City of Toulouse References Edit Herodotus Histories 8 79 a b c d e One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Caspari Maximilian Otto Bismarck 1911 Aristides In Chisholm Hugh ed Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 2 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 494 495 Plutarch Life of Aristeides VII 5 6 Nudell Joshua P 6 March 2023 Orienting toward Athens and the Aegean System 480 454 Accustomed to Obedience Classical Ionia and the Aegean World 480 294 BCE University of Michigan Press p 27 ISBN 9780472133376 Retrieved 15 May 2023 Thucydides says that it was the Ionians as a group who came to resent the violent leadership of Pausanias and therefore requested that Athenians lead a new alliance that would better serve their interests while Aristotle says that Aristides stoked the flames of frustration on the part of the Ionians after Pausanias fall Plato Gorgias 526a b Plato Meno 94a1 Plato Theaetetus 150d 151aBibliography EditMacgregor Morris Ian 2022 Aristeides the Just in A Konecny amp N Sekunda eds The Battle of Plataiai 479 BC Vienna 2022 133 49 Proietti Giorgia 2015 War and Memory the Battle of Psyttaleia Before Herodotus Histories Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 58 2015 43 54 Torello Giulia 2008 The Resurrection of Aristeides Miltiades Solon and Perikles in Eupolis Demes Antichthon 42 2008 40 55 Tuci Paolo A 2018 Aristide imperialista nell Athenaion Politeia aristotelica in C Bearzot M Canevaro T Gargiulo E Poddighe eds Athenaion Politeiai tra storia politica e sociologia Aristotele e Pseudo Senofonte Milan 2018 231 251 Zaccarini Matteo 2020 Aristide il Giusto e l arche ateniese la giustizia al potere Rivista di Filologia e Istruzione Classica 148 2020 5 33 External links EditPlutarch s Life of Aristides in English Translation Plutarch s Life of Aristides in English Translation at the Internet Classics Archive Plutarch s Life of Aristides in English Translation at the Perseus Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aristides amp oldid 1167900331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
