Title: Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades : story, text and moralism /
Authors: Verdegem, Simon
Publisher: Leuven University Press,
Year: 2010
Subjects: Plutarch.; Plutarch Criticism and interpretation.
Abstract: At the beginning of the second century C.E., Plutarch of Chaeronea wrote a series of pairs of biographies of Greek and Roman statesmen. Their purpose is moral: the reader is invited to reflect on important ethical issues and to use the example of these great men from the past to improve his or her own conduct. This book offers the first full-scale commentary on the Life of Alcibiades.
Contents: Introduction. Moralism ; Story ; Text -- The proem (Alc. 1). An intriguing beginning ; Making a start ; Conclusions -- A difficult character (Alc. 2-9). On character changes and innate passions (Alc. 2.1) ; Childhood stories (Alc. 2.2-3.2) ; How to distinguish flatterers from a friend (Alc. 4-6) ; Sayings and doings of a young adult (Alc. 7-9) ; Conclusions -- The ascent to power (Alc. 10-15). A spectacular entry (Alc. 10.1-2) ; Alcibiades' rhetoric (Alc. 10.3-4) ; The olympic triumph (Alc. 11-12) ; The struggle for power in Athens (Alc. 13) ; Breaking the Peace of Nicias (Alc. 14-15) ; Conclusions -- A thought-provoking transition (Alc. 16). Dividing public opinion ; Combining source material -- The great reversal (Alc. 17.1-23.3). Thinking about the conquest of Sicily (Alc. 17.1-18.5) ; From mutilation to condemnation (Alc. 18.6-22.5) ; Alcibiades' defection to Sparta (Alc. 23.1-3) ; Conclusions -- The art of adaptation (Alc. 23.4-5). Alcibiades' adaptation of his conduct ; Plutarch's adaptation of his material -- From Sparta to Samos (Alc. 23.6-26.9). From Sparta to Sardis (Alc. 23.6-25.2) ; From Sardis to Samos (Alc. 25.3-26.9) ; Conclusions -- Fighting his way back (Alc. 27-31). A quest for glory (Alc. 27.1-2) ; The battle of Abydus (Alc. 27.3-6) ; In prison (Alc. 27.6-28.2) ; The Battle of Cyzicus (Alc. 28.2-10) ; Alcibiades and Thrasyllus (Alc. 29.1-5) ; The expedition against Chalcedon (Alc. 29.6-30.2) ; The capture of Selybria (Alc. 30.3-10) ; The Chalcedon-Treaty (Alc. 31.1-2) ; The capture of Byzantium (Alc. 31.3-8) ; Conclusions -- At the height of his glory (Alc. 32-34). Alcibiades' return to Athens (Alc. 32.1-34.2) ; Alcibiades' restoration of the procession to Eleusis (Alc. 34.3-7) ; Conclusions -- A tragic downfall (Alc. 35-39). In absentia (Alc. 35.1-36.5) ; A new blow (Alc. 36.6-37.8) ; The final act (Alc. 38-39) ; Conclusions.