Social Tension in Athens: The Second Peloponnesian War

One event that caused Social tension in Athens during the fifth-century B.C.E, was known as the second Peloponnesian war (461 B.C.E.). Ancient sources from this period including, Epitaphios Logos and Lysistrata, when coupled with additional evidence, reveal social tensions Athenians confronted during this time.

This describes Athenianism which caused tension - in building.

At the end of the Persian wars, Athens materialized along with Sparta as the two leading powers in the Greek world. As Athens grew in confidence, their promotion of ‘Athenianism’, was a bid to place Athens as leader of its empire. This growing confidence is demonstrated in the building programme during the 440’s and 430’s B.C.E, such as the Parthenon. As Robson states, ‘[t]he Parthenon and its sculptures can certainly be viewed as celebrating Athens’ spiritual life, military prowess, and cultural pre-eminence’ (Robson, ECW, p. 99). This can be seen as architectural evidence of mounting self-belief, for example, the south freeze of the Parthenon; to modern day interpretation undoubtedly depicts the battle at Marathon. Seen as a promotion of Athenian military ascendancy and coupled with the attitude of superiority over other Greek states, this combined campaign instigated tension with Sparta, inspiring the first Peloponnesian war.

This describes the tension between Sparta and Athens in F/S.

The Epitaphios Logos was according to Thus, delivered by Pericles during the first year of the Peloponnesian war. Pericles stated in this speech that ‘… the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be ours …’ and how ‘… we have forced every sea and land to be the highway of our daring …’(Pericles, funeral speech). This can be seen as evidence of the superior...

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...ll the men what to do.

The action and relationship between the two choruses parallels the action of the story; as tensions between men and women increase, so does the fighting between the choruses. When peace is declared, the choruses join together as one.

But were these real tensions that are described by Aristophanes? Or were they just a way to point out that the war with Sparta was so stupid that even women who were regarded as a lower form of human being could see this.

but he might also have hoped to point out that men, who did have an authority denied to women, should be ashamed of their inaction, especially when faced by a fictional woman’s attempt to bring peace.

Scholars, such as Price, have stressed the need for Pericles to have made this speech in not only highlighting the reasons for the war, but also what they are fighting for.