Meaning & use
Pericles
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Meaning
proper nounproper
The Athenian statesman and general who led Athens for many years in the fifth century BCE, during a period of great achievement in art and politics.
Grammar: Always capitalized, with no article: Pericles led Athens.
Patterns
- the age of Pericles
- Pericles' funeral oration
Pericles encouraged the building of the Parthenon in Athens.
Many students first learn about democracy by reading about Pericles.
Pericles died in 429 BCE, during a plague that struck the city.
Common combinations
- the Age of Pericles
- The Age of Pericles was a time of great art in Athens.
- Pericles' funeral oration
- Pericles' funeral oration praised Athenian democracy.
- Athens under Pericles
- Athens under Pericles grew rich and powerful.
- the leadership of Pericles
- Under the leadership of Pericles, public buildings rose on the Acropolis.
- statesman Pericles
- The statesman Pericles was known for his speeches.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- Periclean adjective
- relating to Pericles or his period, as in Periclean Athens
- Athenian adjective
- of or from Athens
- Parthenon proper noun
- the temple built on the Acropolis during his time
Commonly confused: Pericles or Pericles vs. Socrates?
Pericles vs Pericles vs. Socrates
Pericles was a political leader, while Socrates was a philosopher who lived in Athens a little later.
Practice
Pericles is best known as a leader of which city?
Choose one answer.
Pericles led Athens in the fifth century BCE. Sparta was a rival of Athens, Rome belongs to a later era, and Corinth was another Greek city.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Pericles”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.