Aristides

d. 468 BC

ARISTIDES AND THE COUNTRYMAN

Aristides the Just first came to prominence in Athens during the first Persian invasion and the battle of Marathon. His reputation for honesty preceded him, and, combined with his valor in battle, he was selected to guard and distribute the spoils after the victory at Marathon. He was soon elected archon, and in this position, resisted Themistocles, who promoted increasing Athens naval capability, although the true difference between the two men was in disposition rather than strategy. Aristides was a patriotic statesman, seemingly above self-interest and his obvious virtues were controversial enough to get him ostracized from Athens, only a few years after being elected archon. His exile was short lived, however, as all exiles were called to return to Athens in 490 B.C., when the second Persian invasion was imminent. As soon as he returned, he again distinguished himself with his heroic exploits during the battle of Salamis, and the row between himself and Themistocles was put aside.

In the years after the Persian war, Aristides played a leading role in rebuilding Athens, and the formation of the Delian League. His reputation for honesty was of great importance to Athens, as she made many alliances in the years following the war, with other Greek cities and islands regarding self-defense. Eventually Themistocles, his arch-rival, fell out of favor and was ostracized, allegedly for corruption and for dealing with the Persians, but Aristides continued in good standing until the end of his life, and was buried at state expense.

Key events during the life of Aristides:

Year	Event
508 BC	Associate and partisan of Cleisthenes and his democratic reforms.
490 BC	Commander of his tribe at the battle of Marathon. Fought with distinction.
489 BC	Elected Archon.
	Resisted Themistocles on many issues.
483 BC	Was ostracized from Athens by his enemies.
480 BC	Returned from exile and distinguished himself at the battle of Salamis.
479 BC	Commanded a division of Athens army at the battle of Plataea.
478 BC	Delian League was founded by Aristides and Cimon.
468 BC	Aristides dies and is buried at state expense.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Of the Battle of Salamis  in	The Story of the Persian War  by  Alfred J. Church
Just Man  in	Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Aristides the Just  in	The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
Aristides  in	Famous Men of Greece  by  John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland
Aristides the Just  in	Greek Gods, Heroes, and Men  by  Caroline H. and Samuel B. Harding
Aristides  in	Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman
Aristides Is Ostracised  in	The Story of Greece  by  Mary Macgregor
Delian League  in	The Story of Greece  by  Mary Macgregor
Four Famous Men of Athens  in	Historical Tales: Greek  by  Charles Morris
Great Persian Invasion  in	The Story of the Greek People  by  Eva March Tappan
Aristides  in	Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston  by

Image Links
Aristides  in Famous Men of Greece	Aristides and the Countryman, Hillemacher  in Famous Men of Greece	Sophocles and Aristides  in Greatest Nations - Greece
Aristides and the Citizen  in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston

Contemporary	Short Biography
Miltiades	Athenian General who led Greece to great victory at the Battle of Marathon.
Themistocles	Athenian hero of the Battle of Salamis. He masterminded Athenian naval supremacy.
Cimon	Athenian statesman and general. Fought Persians in Ionia after the war. Friend of Sparta.