The Fairest Victor: Plutarch, Aristides and the Persian Wars

Abstract

Plutarch’s narratives of the Persian Wars assign a place of primary importance to Aristides the Just and give him an influence not seen in any other source. At Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea, Aristides is front and center, not only taking part in the battles but also and especially offering sage counsel, reconciling differences, and managing the fractiousness of the Athenians and the Greek commanders. This prominent role assigned to Aristides probably results from Plutarch’s concern in his own day (as evidenced, for example, in the Political Precepts) with concord and harmony amongst the ruling elite, and Aristides thus becomes for Plutarch an exemplum of how the statesman should conduct himself vis-à-vis his colleagues and the people at large.