How Did Alcibiades Influence Lucydides's Life

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A main figure acting as an external force against all sides involved in the Wars, is Alcibiades. He influenced multiple people and was highly appreciated in numerous nations, giving him a wide berth for manipulation of important figures to cater to his own plans. Involved in the Peloponnesian conflict since the battle involving Potidaea, Alcibiades’ ideas were respected among influential persons; given the fact that he had been brought up by esteemed member of society, Socrates (Krentz, 2003). Showing his political strength in Athenian court, Alcibiades overruled current acting general Nicias’ logical judgements on proposed expeditions such as Sicily (where he outlined the fact that it would be a work of great difficulty), for his own personal gain …show more content…
In the face of his elders, Alcibiades had formed a getaway plan and fled to Persia, where he became a military advisor (Plutarch, 415BC). While in Persia, Alcibiades advised a military general named Tissaphernes to exhibit their naval fleet during a battle with Athens, providing a window for Alcibiades to come to Athens with a false alliance (Thucydides, 412BC). There is an agreement between both Historians Plutarch and Thucydides concerning the overall character of Alcibiades, deeming him “hot-tempered, [having] an overruling desire for superiority and only wishing to personally gain wealth and reputation”. Works constructed by both of these authors declare solid portrayals of Alcibiades, considering the fact that they have been in his presence during several of his manipulatory activities. Despite both authors additionally being Grecian-born as we are, they do not show bias towards Alcibiades as a political figure, exhibiting a useful model to describe Alcibiades’

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