Athenian Government | EssayIvy.com

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The values of Athenian government according to Pericles

The basic values of Athenian government are equality and democracy. The Funeral Oration of

Pericles is a legendary speech delivered by the Pericles, who was a great politician in Athens. To

him, the democracy in Athens refers to justice. The funerals of people who died in war were given

in public. The dead bodies of soldiers were kept in a tent for three days awaiting the funeral pageant

in that, "Cypress coffins are borne in cars, one for each tribe, and the bones of the deceased being

placed in the coffin of their tribe." The bodies of dead people were burned. Two coins were put on

the eyes of the dead and urged the gods to provide peace to the dead men. The god of Greek is

Apollo, who protected them.

Athens was considered as the oldest democratic nation on Earth. They believed that man reached

Apollo after death, and in turn, will be punished or praised for the actions he did while alive.

Pericles promoted Arts and literature. He thus helped Athens become a center for education and

culture. Pericles revealed this, “Athens is a democracy because the administration favors the many

instead of the few.” He considered Athens as the origin of democracy and equality. The current

democracy is based upon Athens. In the funeral oration of Pericles, he mentioned the city of Athens

to be a role model to all Greece. In addition, he considers every citizen of Athens as more

independent and adaptable to all circumstances. The citizens have the ability to gracefully be

involved in all activities. The individuals in Athens are willing to dedicate their lives to the service

of freedom and their city.

Pericles talked positive things about the government system followed in Athens and democracy

too. The prosperity of people in Athens depends on their self-capability and merits rather than on

their class socially or the wealth they possess. In the Athenian democracy, Pericles mentions that

the people ruling do not make decisions based on their social class or their wealthy possessions.

They purely base ruling on their capability. Any individual having the qualities of the ruling is

allowed to rule. Democracy in Athens, a man works on his desire. He does not have any fear in

mind and acts very well within the bounds of law and order. Justice is provided equally to all men

in Athens. Every man is allowed to show his superiority over his fellow comrades. This is a good

proof that the city was actually the origin of equality and democracy.

Athens qualifies to be a great country. It brings in improvement at no more cost. Wealthy is meant

for usage rather than showing off. Moreover, the Athenians hate poverty as no one is prepared to

struggle against it. Athens is a city that bore the seeds of democracy and consecutively determined

the term democracy. The present explanation of democracy has got its foundation from Athens.

Are the values of Athenian Government relevant to today’s democracy?

The democracy in Greece affect the political institutions in the United States deeply. It acts as both

an inspirational model and example of dangerous excess. Rather than representing democracy, it

had a system of direct, where every male Athenian adult was allowed to take part in thoughts and

voting in central institutions and law-making association. The effect of Athenian democracy is

more complex today. Citizens controlled themselves directly, while currently in the United States,

there are representatives appointed to control the citizens. An example is the Occupy movement

that was motivated by the direct democracy rather than representative democracy. It has been

compared to the practices of ancient Athenians.

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