Latest / The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History / Alcibiades: The Traitor Who Saved Athens
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've covered Pericles, the plague, the golden age. But after Pericles died in 429 BC, Athens was left without a clear leader. And that's when a figure emerged who might be the most fascinating, infuriating character in all of Greek history. Luna: Let me guess — Alcibiades? Lucas: Exactly. Alcibiades. He was a young aristocrat, a relative of Pericles, raised in his household. He was also a student of Socrates, which makes for an incredible contrast. Socrates preached virtue and self-knowledge, and Alcibiades became the most ambitious, shameless opportunist Athens ever produced. Lucas: He was incredibly charismatic, brilliant, and famously handsome. But he was also deeply reckless. Thucydides says he was 'exceedingly ambitious' — and that's an understatement. He craved power and glory above everything else. Luna: So how did this guy start causing trouble? Lucas: Well, around 415 BC, Athens was locked in the Peloponnesian War with Sparta. A tenuous peace had fallen apart. Alcibiades was a rising politician, and he pushed for a bold plan: a massive naval expedition to Sicily, to conquer the city of Syracuse and gain control of the island's resources. He argued it would cripple Sparta's allies. Luna: Sicily? That's a long way from home. Lucas: Exactly. It was an enormous gamble. But Alcibiades convinced the Athenian assembly. They assembled a fleet of over a hundred triremes — the largest Athens had ever sent out. But just before the fleet was about to sail, something strange happened. Lucas: One morning, Athenians woke up to find that nearly all the hermae — these stone pillars with the head of Hermes, placed at doorways for good luck — had been mutilated. Their faces were smashed. It was seen as a terrible omen, and also as a plot to overthrow the democracy. Luna: And Alcibiades was accused? Lucas: Suspicion fell on him and his circle. He denied it, demanded a trial before the fleet sailed, but his enemies delayed. So the fleet left with Alcibiades as one of the commanders, but under a cloud. Soon after, a ship was sent to recall him to face charges. And here's where things get wild. Lucas: Instead of returning, Alcibiades defected. He escaped and fled to Sparta — Athens's bitter enemy. Luna: He just switched sides like that? Lucas: He did. And in Sparta, he gave them devastating advice. He told them to send a general to Syracuse to help the Sicilians resist the Athenian siege. He also urged them to fortify a position near Athens called Decelea, to cut off Athenian food supplies and force them to fight on two fronts. The Spartans followed his advice, and it was catastrophic for Athens. Lucas: Meanwhile, in Sicily, the Athenian expedition fell apart. Their commander Nicias was indecisive, the Syracusans got Spartan help, and eventually the entire Athenian force was destroyed. Thousands died or were enslaved. It was the worst military disaster in Athenian history. Luna: And Alcibiades was directly responsible for that. Lucas: Partly, yes. But he wasn't done. After a while, he fell out of favor in Sparta — he allegedly seduced the wife of a Spartan king. So he fled again, this time to the Persian Empire. He offered his services to the Persian satrap Tissaphernes, advising him to play Athens and Sparta against each other to wear both out. Luna: So he was working for Persia now? Lucas: Sort of. But while he was in Persia, he started contacting Athenian oligarchs who had staged a coup and set up a government called the Four Hundred in 411 BC. He hinted that if Athens returned to democracy and recalled him, he could bring Persian support to their side. The oligarchic regime quickly collapsed, and the democracy was restored. Luna: And they actually recalled him? Lucas: They did. Despite everything, Athens was desperate. They needed a capable commander. So Alcibiades was welcomed back as a hero. He was given command of the fleet, and he won a series of victories, most notably at Cyzicus in 410 BC, where he destroyed a Spartan fleet. Lucas: For a few years, Athens looked like it might win the war. Alcibiades restored Athenian control over the Bosporus and secured grain supplies. He was at the height of his power. Luna: So what went wrong? Lucas: His luck ran out. In 407 BC, he left the fleet in the hands of a subordinate while he went to collect funds. That subordinate, Antiochus, disobeyed orders and attacked the Spartan fleet under Lysander at Notium. The Athenians lost badly. Alcibiades was blamed. Luna: Even though he wasn't there? Lucas: Doesn't matter. He was held responsible. He was stripped of command and went into voluntary exile. He never returned to Athens. He ended up in Phrygia, in Persian territory, living as a fugitive. The Spartans and Persians both wanted him dead. Lucas: In 404 BC, he was assassinated. His house was surrounded by archers and set on fire. He burst out with a sword and was killed by a hail of arrows. Even his death was dramatic. Luna: What a story. So was he a traitor or a patriot? Lucas: That's the question. He was loyal only to himself. Yet when he was in command, he was brilliant. Athens needed him, but could never trust him. Thucydides, who knew him, wrote that Alcibiades was 'a man whose public services were unparalleled, but whose private life was scandalous.' He embodied both the brilliance and the fatal recklessness of Athens itself. Luna: He really is the ultimate cautionary tale about genius without principles.