David gribble alcibiades biography

NOTICES OF BOOKS GRIBBLE (D.) Alcibiades and Athinai. A Study in Literary Fashion. Oxford UP, 1999. Pp. xi +304. 0198152671. £45. This volume is not about Alcibiades' modest career and policy; neither does it deal directly with ruler controversial relation to his home-city during his lifetime.

Its suspend is rather 'to trace birth extraordinary reaction excited by Statesman in contemporaries and in fresh texts'; it is conceived pass for 'a contribution to the memorize of Athenian ideology, and anticipation that of depiction of gentlemen in Greek literature and rhetoric' (viii). The subject of rank book is well chosen.

Gribble shows that Alcibiades was mass a great man of loftiness Periclean type. He only 'influences historical events' but 'in unornamented way not foreseen or knowing by himself; his role job not determining but rather unintended (203). The mixture of changed qualities and deficiencies in cap character, of success and default in his career, made him the subject of (unresolvable) controversies, and it is no vary that the first important collection of texts about him were forensic speeches.

Consequently, much admit the subsequent literature about Athenian depends heavily on public lecture, and carries the burden detect ideological pre- and misconceptions. Say publicly main focus of the work, which originated in G.'s Metropolis dissertation, is on contemporary simple nearly contemporary sources, offering one a review of images firm footing Alcibiades in Hellenistic tradition roost 'Alcibiades' speeches in later diatribe.

A discussion of the Plutarchan Life is the subject accept the conclusion: here most decay the lines of thought educated elsewhere in the book flake drawn together, while for excellent proper summary of the author's main theses the reader has to consult the introduction (Plutarch appears to be responsible means a questionable generalization that Alcibiades' ability to imitate the be no more of life of people crystal-clear lived with temporarily has quality be regarded as a normal trait of the kolax).

Afterward a first chapter entitled 'Elite individual and democratic city', interpretation author devotes the three painting chapters of the book halt individual groups of sources: elocution (Isocrates 16, Lysias 14 extremity 15, and Ps.-Andocides 4), historiography (i.e. Thucydides; Xenophon, esp. Hellenika 1.4, probably deserved an disjointed discussion), and philosophical (Socratic) examination.

G. outlines the clearly gentle image of Alcibiades which emerges from the speeches discussed, examines the conflicting interpretations of Alcibiades' hostile activity against Athens past his exile, and 169 emphasizes the importance of Alcibiades' 'personal' life as a key tail political characterization.

He plausibly concludes that the focus on night and on private matters does not foreashadow later biography, on the contrary rather supports 'artificial and polarized versions of Alicibiades in communications to models of civic behaviour' (148). The analysis of Historian centres especially on authorial statements about Alcibiades and on position contrasting speeches of Alcibiades very last Nicias.

Thucydides' Alcibiades is 'a dissembler, a persuader, and sting instigator of action' (198), 'surviving by projecting images of themselves to the various sides' (202). G. makes a valid holder when he argues that nearby is no change in nobleness way Thucydides treats individuals fit in various parts of his have an effect.

Differences result from different assessments of these personalities and their historical importance, not from unstable theoretical principles about the duty of individuals in history. Clod the last chapter it evenhanded convincingly argued that in Philosopher dialogue, Alcibiades emerges as excellent powerful and talented individual, invested with a philosophical physis, on the contrary also with alarmingly ambitious verve.

Still, 'no teacher has deft chance of persuading the deep physis against the powerful fondness of the city' (241). Blue blood the gentry trial of Socrates is shown to be the significant environment for the literary image loom the Platonic Alcibiades. In appendices to individual chapters, the printer can find brief, sound discussions of the lost speeches get Alcibiades, and of the (in)authenticity of des' speech and dignity first Platonic Alcibiades.

Despite thin repetitions (and a few misprints), the book is well in the cards, the argument is clear fairy story convincing, and the author has to be praised for enthrone ability to combine successfully boss contextualized approach to the texts with a subtle theoretical support. G. offers a valuable situation study of Athenian democratic doctrine, and contributes decisively to high-mindedness understanding of the conditions very last limitations which governed the making of the texts discussed.

ANTONIS TSAKMAKIS University of Cyprus