Ancient History

» Rosemary Drisdelle - The Younger Pericles and Arginusae

My Oxford Classical Dictionary often leads me on a tangled trip from one entry to another as I try to identify people and places... It tells me that the younger Pericles was put to death after Arginusae, a naval battle that Athens won. I presume Pericles was a general on Athens' side, so why would he have been executed?

Rosemary Drisdelle
birds.suite101.com

» Robin Fowler - The Younger Pericles and Arginusae

Thanks for your comment Rosemary.

As for your question regarding Pericles the Younger and his execution following the battle of Arginusae: Though the Athenians were able to defeat the Spartans soundly at sea, when a terrible storm blew threw the region, the Athenians were left unable to rescue any of the shipwrecked men. A rather large number of Athenians drowned as a result. Upon their return to Athens, the admirals were put on trial, with 6 of them being sentenced to execution for failing to rescue their fellow Athenians. Among those put to death was Pericles the Younger.
An unfortunate end, certainly!