Alcibiades And The Peloponnesian War

“Men who are capable of real action first make their plans and then go forward without hesitation while their enemies have still not made up their minds.” ― Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War. If there was ever a more accurate quote to describe Alcibiades, this out shone it. Through his manipulation, impressive persuasion, and eagerness to be on the winning side, Alcibiades, son of Cleinias, was able to become a prominent figure in the Peloponnesian war. Not only was he an extraordinary Athenian politician and military commander, but he also is credited with provoking both sides of the war. Through his stills at public speaking, and his charms, Alcibiades in one of the main reasons for many of the battles that went on during the Peloponnesian War.
It was clear to all that knew him that Alcibiades got what he wanted. When he was a young man, Socrates became his mentor, teaching him the elegance of speech, and the art of persuasion. While he refined these skills, he had natural qualities that helped him. He was said to have been so beautiful that he became more attractive each year, more charming with each month, and more graceful with each day. Even his lisp was said to aid to his appeal. With these personal attributes, and the fact that Socrates held
Only two could compete with him, Phaeax and Nicias. Nicias was mature and was considered a respected general, but Phaeax was like Alcibiades, young. However, he did not have the gift for public speaking that Alcibiades did. Nicias was also well respected by Sparta. While Alcibiades acted as a consul for Sparta, and the men that were captured by them at Pylos, Nicias was given most of the credit. The Spartans saw him as the reason there was peace between the two countries. Alcibiades was jealous of this and it was out of this jealousy that he began to plot a way to violate the treaty and end the