Alcibiades

Alcibiades son of Cleinias, of the Attic deme Scambonidae — ward of Pericles after his father died at Coroneia in 447, pupil of Socrates (Plato *Symposium* 215a–222b for the famous drunken tribute), and from his early thirties the most spectacular political figure of the late Peloponnesian War. Architect of the Argive alliance of 420 that tried to unpick the Peace of Nicias (Thuc. 5.43–47) and of the Sicilian Expedition he sold to the assembly in 415 against Nicias's opposition (Thuc. 6.15–18, the set-piece speech arguing Athens could not sit still). On the eve of the expedition's departure, accused in the scandals of the mutilation of the Hermai (the herm-phalluses vandalised across Athens the night before the sailing, Thuc. 6.27–29) and the parody of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Sailed with the fleet; recalled mid-summer for trial; jumped ship at Thurii and fled to Sparta (Thuc. 6.53–61 + 6.88.7–93), where he advised the Spartans to send Gylippus to Syracuse — the single decisive strategic move on the Spartan side. Later defector to Persia (Tissaphernes), then back to Athens (411), then exile and death in Phrygia at Persian hands 404 (Plut. *Alc.* 39 — the burning hut, the sword-hand covered with her hair-cloak).

Associated Places