Pericles Funeral Oration Essay

Pericle's funeral oration was a speech made to honor the Athenian soldiers that died in the war against Sparta. It is one of the most important defenses of democracy of all time. The oration has resonated with people throughout the centuries. Serious scholars consider this speech to be so important because it provided a great insight into Athenian life, related the importance of democracy, and is timeless. Pericle's funeral oration praised Athens and its citizens. It outlined what made Athens such a strong nation and the special qualities of Athenians. He speaks about how Athenian ctizens work for the greater good of the city by will, rather than by force. According to Pericles, a good citizen participates fully in public debate. Athenians had games and religious festivals throughout the year, and their homes were beautiful. The speech honors the ancestors who built this city and their support of the say of many. Pericles says that in speaking of the greatness of the city, he the greatness of the soldiers. Another topic was that Athens is superior to the other city states in military, government, and education. Athens was the ideal model of Greece in the age of Pericles. This is greatly important to scholars as it gives an understanding of life in Athens. …show more content…
Pericles defined demoracy as the say of many citizens, not just a few. He found democracy to be powerful in shaping a powerful nation. The oration talks about equality before the law, an ideal of Western civilization, and how there is no exclusiveness in public life. Another value of Western civilzation it describes is the value of participation. It talked about how important the soldier's sacrifices were in protecting democracy. Pericles also says that election to public office is based on ability, not on class. Athens does not need to imitate other states' laws, but rather is an example. Scholars find this so vital because it expresses the origins of democracy