He wanted to emphasis that what they were fighting for was of the upmost importance. He stated that the soldiers who died gave their lives to protect the city of Athens, its citizens, and its freedom. Even though this speech was written a couple thousand years ago, it is still a moving and powerful speech today.

What was the main purpose of Pericles famous Funeral Oration?

In 431, shortly after the Peloponnesian War had broken out, Pericles delivered his famous Funeral Oration to commemorate those troops who had already fallen in battle.

What is the thesis in Pericles Funeral Oration?

His statements instill a feeling of patriotism towards Athens, and not any sort of sadness for their dead. His focus on life shows that a key value of Athenian society was the preservation of the superior city, and that death was just a part of the greatness of it.

What did Pericles declare in a speech?

In his speech, Pericles states that he had been emphasising the greatness of Athens in order to convey that the citizens of Athens must continue to support the war, to show them that what they were fighting for was of the utmost importance.

Who was the intended audience for Pericles funeral oration?

In 431 BCE, at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War, held their traditional public funeral for all those who had been killed. After the dead had been buried in a public grave, one of the leading citizens, chosen by the city, would offer a suitable speech, and on this occasion Pericles was chosen.

Does Thucydides believe in democracy?

He did not approve of the democratic commoners nor of the radical democracy that Pericles ushered in, but considered democracy acceptable when guided by a good leader. Thucydides’ presentation of events is generally even-handed; for example, he does not minimize the negative effect of his own failure at Amphipolis.

What did democracy really mean in Athens quizlet?

Democracy – Where all citizens are required to vote and it is a government by the people for the people, however in Athens there was a limited democracy since women could not hold office or vote since they could not be citizens, and foreigners as well as slaves could not become citizens and slaves had no rights.

Who do you think were the intended audiences of Pericles funeral oration and Xenophon’s description of the Spartan state?

Pericles’ Funeral Oration has been preserved in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. The audience would have been Athenian and thus the text was designed to stir up civic pride. The speech would have been intended as political propaganda rather than straightforward history and thus is somewhat biased.