040 War Hawks and Peace Doves
The History of Ancient Greece
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Themistocles' Unpopularity in 479 BC
Plutarch's aim was to portray the moral worth, or lack thereof, in his subjects. His belief in heroic qualities of Aristides and Chaimon led him to write their lives with virtually uncritical respect. By contrast, Themistocles is portrayed as clever, devious and unscrupulous politician. He supported a policy of radical democracy and imperialism over Athens' naval allies. The role of the Athenian navy in beating back the Persians had radically altered the balance of power across Greece.
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