only does the weight of hatreds and enmities become less troublesome,
but there is also greater efficiency in the conduct of affairs.” 31
So Pericles resorted to a practice that was well-attested in the fourth century. At
that time, certain citizens had no compunction whatever about selling their names
and proposing decrees of which they were not the true authors: “[Stephanos] was not
yet a public speaker, but thus far merely a pettifogger, one of those who stand beside
the platform and shout, who prefer indictments and informations for hire, and who
let their names be inscribed on motions made up by others.” 32 Seen in this light, it is perhaps not simply by chance that no decree proposed by
Pericles is attested epigraphically among the dozens that cover the period in which
he is said to have wielded such decisive influence.
Cleverly delegating power in order to strengthen his own authority, Pericles made
use of a number of “straw men,” who functioned as so many lightning conductors that
distracted the people’s hatred. In this way, Metiochus (or Metichus), totally unknown
in any other respect, 33 is described by Plutarch as the clumsy victim of his own activism. This understudy
of Pericles seems to have become the target of the comic authors, who mocked him mercilessly:
“Metiochus, you see, is general, Metiochus inspects the roads, Metiochus inspects
the bread and Metiochus inspects the flour, Metiochus takes care of all things and
Metiochus will come to grief.” 34 As Plutarch correctly points out, “He was one of Pericles’ followers and seems to
have used the power gained through him in such a way as to arouse odium and envy [ epiphthonōs ]” ( Precepts of Statecraft , 811F).
The same applies to the seer Lampon, another of the stratēgos ’s trusted followers. 35 The scene unfolds in 444/3 B.C., when the Greek world was finally enjoying some respite
from warfare. After trying in vain to convene a pan-Hellenic congress ( Pericles , 17.1), Pericles made the most of the “Thirty Years’ Peace” signed with Sparta and
its allies and launched an ambitious project: the founding of a new colony at Thurii,
in Magna Graecia, on the site of the ancient Sybaris. Even though the Dorian cities
of the Peloponnesedid not take part, the expedition was a propagandist success, involving numerous Greeks
such as the architect Hippodamus of Miletus, the historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus,
and the sophist Protagoras of Abdera. Rather than take any leading role, Pericles
sheltered behind Lampon in carrying out this operation: the seer, placed at the head
of the colonists, even acted as one of the founders ( oikistēs ) of the colony (Diodorus, 12.10.3–4). However, this sudden notoriety of his made
him the butt of attacks from the comic poets, as can be seen from several fragments
of Cratinus. 36 Concealed behind Lampon, Pericles was sheltered from attack at the very moment when
he had to confront the increasingly virulent opposition of Thucydides of Alopeke;
less than one year later, his opponent was ostracized, having failed to come to grips
with the stratēgos lying low in the shadows, carefully concealed behind his political allies.
A Strategy of Light and Darkness
To preserve his authority, Pericles felt it necessary to secure a shadowy zone for
himself: “Pericles, seeking to avoid the satiety which springs from continual intercourse,
made his approaches to the people by intervals, as it were, not speaking on every
question, nor addressing the people on every occasion, but offering himself like the
Salaminian trireme, as Critolaus says, for great emergencies” ( Pericles , 7.5). Skilfully handled, this measure of obscurity was not solely designed to disarm
the envy of the people; it also had the advantage of imparting a particular dignity
to Pericles’ rare appearances.
In a very attenuated way, such behavior was reminiscent of a
but there is also greater efficiency in the conduct of affairs.” 31
So Pericles resorted to a practice that was well-attested in the fourth century. At
that time, certain citizens had no compunction whatever about selling their names
and proposing decrees of which they were not the true authors: “[Stephanos] was not
yet a public speaker, but thus far merely a pettifogger, one of those who stand beside
the platform and shout, who prefer indictments and informations for hire, and who
let their names be inscribed on motions made up by others.” 32 Seen in this light, it is perhaps not simply by chance that no decree proposed by
Pericles is attested epigraphically among the dozens that cover the period in which
he is said to have wielded such decisive influence.
Cleverly delegating power in order to strengthen his own authority, Pericles made
use of a number of “straw men,” who functioned as so many lightning conductors that
distracted the people’s hatred. In this way, Metiochus (or Metichus), totally unknown
in any other respect, 33 is described by Plutarch as the clumsy victim of his own activism. This understudy
of Pericles seems to have become the target of the comic authors, who mocked him mercilessly:
“Metiochus, you see, is general, Metiochus inspects the roads, Metiochus inspects
the bread and Metiochus inspects the flour, Metiochus takes care of all things and
Metiochus will come to grief.” 34 As Plutarch correctly points out, “He was one of Pericles’ followers and seems to
have used the power gained through him in such a way as to arouse odium and envy [ epiphthonōs ]” ( Precepts of Statecraft , 811F).
The same applies to the seer Lampon, another of the stratēgos ’s trusted followers. 35 The scene unfolds in 444/3 B.C., when the Greek world was finally enjoying some respite
from warfare. After trying in vain to convene a pan-Hellenic congress ( Pericles , 17.1), Pericles made the most of the “Thirty Years’ Peace” signed with Sparta and
its allies and launched an ambitious project: the founding of a new colony at Thurii,
in Magna Graecia, on the site of the ancient Sybaris. Even though the Dorian cities
of the Peloponnesedid not take part, the expedition was a propagandist success, involving numerous Greeks
such as the architect Hippodamus of Miletus, the historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus,
and the sophist Protagoras of Abdera. Rather than take any leading role, Pericles
sheltered behind Lampon in carrying out this operation: the seer, placed at the head
of the colonists, even acted as one of the founders ( oikistēs ) of the colony (Diodorus, 12.10.3–4). However, this sudden notoriety of his made
him the butt of attacks from the comic poets, as can be seen from several fragments
of Cratinus. 36 Concealed behind Lampon, Pericles was sheltered from attack at the very moment when
he had to confront the increasingly virulent opposition of Thucydides of Alopeke;
less than one year later, his opponent was ostracized, having failed to come to grips
with the stratēgos lying low in the shadows, carefully concealed behind his political allies.
A Strategy of Light and Darkness
To preserve his authority, Pericles felt it necessary to secure a shadowy zone for
himself: “Pericles, seeking to avoid the satiety which springs from continual intercourse,
made his approaches to the people by intervals, as it were, not speaking on every
question, nor addressing the people on every occasion, but offering himself like the
Salaminian trireme, as Critolaus says, for great emergencies” ( Pericles , 7.5). Skilfully handled, this measure of obscurity was not solely designed to disarm
the envy of the people; it also had the advantage of imparting a particular dignity
to Pericles’ rare appearances.
In a very attenuated way, such behavior was reminiscent of a
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