Funeral Oration of Pericles

Pericles Funeral Oration In the fifth century BCE the city of Athens was lead by a man named Pericles. Funerals after great battles were held as a public event where any citizen of Athens, stranger or relative to the fallen heroes, was invited to take place. A major difference between funerals in Athens and funerals held in present day is the fact that in Athens the cost of the funeral fell on the public rather than the family of the deceased. The fallen heroes are laid in a public sepulcher which was located in the suburb of the city. Several days before the funeral procession a tent would be erected and the bones of the fallen soldiers were placed in the tent. One empty coffin would be present for those whose bodies could not be recovered. During the three days before the funeral offerings would be brought to the families. In his speech Pericles addresses the fact that it is difficult for one man to speak the praises and accolades of many fallen soldiers. On one hand a relative may underestimate what Pericles had to say about their brother, father, or son. On the other, a complete stranger would have a hard time believing in something so radical because they themselves had never had such an experience. Pericles goes on to discuss the nature of Democracy in Athens, stating that their laws afford equal justice to all. Their laws did not cater to the rich or the poor, nor did social standing or class consideration have an effect on the rights of the citizens. The same concept applied to their personal lives. Year round celebrations of games and sacrifices helped to separate the life of work and duty, from the life of family.
As government and social life went, so did the military aspect. Athens was a city that was open to the world. Never would a foreigner be excluded from the opportunity to learn or observe. Although a great concept, sometimes their enemies would learn quite valuable information from their “open-city” policy. To Pericles