Pericles (495–429 BCE, whose name means "surrounded by glory") was a prominent statesman, famous orator, and general (in Greek 'Strategos’) of Athens
during the Golden Age of Athens. So profound was his influence that the
period in which he led Athens has been called the 'Age of Pericles’.
Pericles promoted the arts, literature, and philosophy
and gave free reign to some of the most inspired writers and thinkers
of his time. During the Age of Pericles, Athens blossomed as a center of
education, art, culture, and democracy. Artists and sculptors,
playwrights and poets, architects and philosophers all found Athens an
exciting and enlivening atmosphere for their work
In 429 BCE the plague struck the city and Pericles was among the victims.With the death of Pericles, his 'age’ ended and Athens fell into an
intellectual, cultural, and spiritual darkness which the Athenians would
struggle with over the next 30 years. It culminated in the execution of
Socrates in the year 399 BCE.
