The significance of erōs in Thucydides' Portrayal of Athenian imperialism.

Abstract

Thucydides' text reveals nine instances of $\sp{\sp,}\!\!\acute\epsilon\rho\omega\varsigma$ and closely related words. The lack of evidence to support the assumption that a sexual context must necessarily form the primary meaning of $\sp{\sp,}\!\!\acute\epsilon\rho\omega\varsigma$ in the fifth century scB.C. invites a closer examination. The first three instances in the History appear in conjunction with three Athenian leaders, who represent three very distinct stages in Athenian imperialism, namely Pericles, Cleon and Alcibiades. Throughout his treatments of these individuals, Thucydides highlights their interaction with the demos and underlines the process by which $\sp{\sp,}\!\!\acute\epsilon\rho\omega\varsigma$ ultimately subordinates reason: his portrayal of Pericles demonstrates the opposition between the rational $\gamma\nu\acute\omega\mu\eta$ and the irrational $\rm o\sp{\!\!\sp,}\rho\gamma\acute\eta,$ that of Cleon illustrates the process by which the Athenians turn from $\gamma\nu\acute\omega\mu\eta$ to $\rm o\sp{\!\!\sp,}\rho\gamma\acute\eta,$ and his treatment of Alcibiades underlines the dangers of such impulsive resolution. What was once $\tau\acute o\lambda\mu\alpha$ is rendered $\alpha\sp{\!\!\!\sp,}\lambda\acute o\gamma\iota\sigma\tau o\varsigma\ \tau\rm\acute o\lambda\mu\alpha.$