Plutarch

From this developed the myth of the sexually promiscuous Cleopatra ad claims of torrid affairs -> Tyldesley – F o Plutarch _ Dio Cassius give a much more balanced interpretation o Guido Reni's: The Death of Cleopatra ( Renaissance , repentant sinner ) Modern sources humanise Cleopatra more Leader Thompson writes there was more to Cleopatra than her promiscuity. Cleo…

Plutarch speaks highly of Alexander and his feats, while subtly pointing out his flaws, in one quote stating “While he was still a boy his self-restraint showed itself in the fact that, although he was impetuous and violent in other matters, the pleasures of the body had little hold upon him, and he indulges in them with great moderation, while his ambition kept his spirit serious and lofty in advance of his years” Plutarch states that Alexander was modest in his…

Just like Plutarch, Herodotus treated Themistocles ambivalently in his writing. He stated many times Themistocles was a greedy man. However, Herodotus also praised Themistocles’ success as an Athenian commander during the Persian Wars. This is comparable to how Plutarch treated Themistocles; except while Plutarch critiqued Themistocles on his ambition, Herodotus critiqued him on his greed. Herodotus included anecdotes that explained how Themistocles was greedy. In book eight of his Histories,…

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]…

role in society. They were occasionally taught how to read and write within the privacy of the home, but usually only to train for household management and priestess duties like caring for religious documents. The women who were written about by Plutarch, Xenophon, and Plato were extreme violations of acceptable female behavior in ancient Greece. These writers obviously believed that they were unusual enough to mention in their…

backtracked on many of the promises that put them in power. Similar things happen all over the world, even in the United States where presidential candidates might promise reforms they have no way of guaranteeing just so they can get in office. In Plutarch 's and Shakespeare’s renditions of Coriolanus, here referenced in tandem to illustrate both the skills and defects of Caius Martius, he is the exact opposite of these types of politicians. The concept of seeming to serve the public to put…

28 men over the age of sixty. They were typically the wealthier and more influential men in Sparta and, once elected to the council, they served for life. The Greek historian and author Plutarch wrote about Lycurgus, the man who was instrumental in forming the senate, called the Council of Elders, in Sparta. Plutarch wrote that Lycurgus believed this council of 28 men leaned toward a monarchy and…

Julius Caesar was a great political leader who was the bridge from the old Roman Republic to an Empire. One of the most famous Roman Rulers of the time Julius Caesar, through his reforms and actions he brought the Roman Republic to its knees. Although Julius Caesar was an accomplished military leader, statesman and politician, his motives and actions would damage the Roman Republic. The way Julius Caesar contributed to the breakdown of the Roman republic was through his involvement in the…

Agoge was the system of education and punishment which taught the Spartan males the true values of Spartan life and society. The boys learnt obedience to the law, companionship, bravery and self-sacrifice. After the second Messenian War Spartan life was based on controlling a large number of enslaved helots. . Through its hard training the Agoge taught in Spartan citizens mental and physical qualities needed to preserve their life and society to defend it against internal and external threats.…

Roman political leader, says that “Vulgar and unbecoming to a gentleman are all the jobs hired workers take on, whose labor is purchased rather than their skill. All craftsmen spend their time in vulgar occupations (Doc 5).” This shows, contrary to Plutarch, that technology is below a true gentleman, but is necessary. Cicero probably had no idea how to use this new technology in his civilization, so he is probably trying to protect himself. Seneca, a philosopher who was an advisor to Emperor…