伯里克利(前495年～西元前429年)

Pericles

雅典的将军和政治人物，对雅典民主和雅典帝国的全面发展曾做出重大贡献。因与深具影响力的阿尔克迈翁家族有亲戚关系，在西元前461年之後获选当权，之後很快协助进行了基本的民主改革。他声称雅典控制提洛同盟，使用联盟的财政重建了遭受波斯人破坏的雅典卫城。其很有势力的配偶阿斯帕西亚为他生了一个儿子，在其合法儿子们都死後被立为合法继承人。西元前447～446年雅典失去了麦加拉，使得斯巴达能长驱直入阿提卡。虽然雅典和斯巴达同意签订三十年和平协定（西元前446～西元前445年），但伯里克利仍加强了从雅典到比雷埃夫斯港的长墙防御工事。当战争在西元前431年爆发时，他靠海军供应城市食物。阿提卡的人口被安置於长墙内，留下乡村任由斯巴达人蹂躏。当瘟疫爆发後，夺去1/4人口的性命，他被迫下台并受罚款。後来虽再度当选，但最终也死於这场瘟疫。其伟大的葬礼演说（约西元前430年）是至今最着名的扞卫民主演说之一，而他那个时代也被认为是雅典的黄金时期。

English version：

前495年～西元前429年

Pericles

Athenian general and statesman largely responsible for the full development of Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire. Related to the influential Alcmaeonids, he was elected to power sometime after 461, and he quickly helped adopt essential democratic reforms. He asserted Athenian control over the Delian League and used the league's treasury to rebuild the Acropolis, sacked by the Persians. His influential consort Aspasia bore him a son, who was legitimated when his legitimate sons died. In 447-446 Athens lost Megara, giving Sparta direct access to Attica. Though Athens and Sparta agreed on a Thirty Years' Peace (446-445), Pericles had the Long Walls from Athens to the port at Piraeus strengthened for protection. When war broke out in 431, he relied on the navy to keep the city supplied. Attica's population was brought inside the Long Walls, leaving the countryside open to Spartan pillaging. When plague broke out, killing one-fourth of the population, he was deposed and fined. Though reelected, he too died of the plague. His great funeral oration (c. 430) remains one of the greatest defenses of democracy, and his era is remembered as the Golden Age of Athens.