DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69942#0031
ALCIBIADES.
Alcibiades, the son of Clineas and of Dinomaca,
was born in the middle of the fifth century, before the
Christian era. He was descended, it is said, from Ajax;
and his riches and his beauty bespoke his illustrious
origin.
He was brought up in the house of his tutor, Pericles.
Socrates was his master: but the pupil sometimes fled
from the trammels of philosophy, which gave rise to the
remark of Cleanthes—“That Socrates held the infant only
by the ears.” There are numerous sallies recorded by Plu-
tarch, illustrative of his character:—“ You bite like a
woman; say rather like a lion,” replied Alcibiades, to
one of his comrades, whose arm he rent while wrestling
with him. Presenting himself one day at the door of
Pericles, he was informed that Pericles could not see
him, being occupied in contriving in what manner he
might make his peace with the Athenians. “ Would it
not be better,” said Alcibiades, as he retired, “ that he
should be busied in seeking means not to go among
them.”
Alcibiades first bore arms in the war of Potidaea. So-
crates, who accompanied him, had the happiness to pre-
serve his life, and the generosity to grant him the prize
of valour. Alcibiades gained three others in the Olympic
games. His manners, his affability, his follies, to which
he even gave a charm, rendered him very shortly the
idol of Athens; which induced the misanthrope, Timon, to
Alcibiades, the son of Clineas and of Dinomaca,
was born in the middle of the fifth century, before the
Christian era. He was descended, it is said, from Ajax;
and his riches and his beauty bespoke his illustrious
origin.
He was brought up in the house of his tutor, Pericles.
Socrates was his master: but the pupil sometimes fled
from the trammels of philosophy, which gave rise to the
remark of Cleanthes—“That Socrates held the infant only
by the ears.” There are numerous sallies recorded by Plu-
tarch, illustrative of his character:—“ You bite like a
woman; say rather like a lion,” replied Alcibiades, to
one of his comrades, whose arm he rent while wrestling
with him. Presenting himself one day at the door of
Pericles, he was informed that Pericles could not see
him, being occupied in contriving in what manner he
might make his peace with the Athenians. “ Would it
not be better,” said Alcibiades, as he retired, “ that he
should be busied in seeking means not to go among
them.”
Alcibiades first bore arms in the war of Potidaea. So-
crates, who accompanied him, had the happiness to pre-
serve his life, and the generosity to grant him the prize
of valour. Alcibiades gained three others in the Olympic
games. His manners, his affability, his follies, to which
he even gave a charm, rendered him very shortly the
idol of Athens; which induced the misanthrope, Timon, to