Funeral Oration of Pericles Essay Example

Funeral Oration of Pericles Essay Example Funeral Oration of Pericles Essay Funeral Oration of Pericles Essay Prices Funeral Oration In the fifth century BCC the city of Athens was lead by a man named Prices. Funerals after great battles were held as a public event where any citizen of Athens, stranger or relative to the fallen heroes, was invited to take place. A major difference between funerals in Athens and funerals held in present day is the fact that in Athens the cost of the funeral fell on the public rather than the family of the deceased. The fallen heroes are laid in a public sepulcher which was located in the suburb of the city. : Several days before the funeral procession a tent would be erected and the bones of the fallen soldiers were placed in the tent. One empty coffin would be present for those whose bodies could not be recovered. During the three days before the funeral offerings would be brought to the families. In his speech Prices addresses the fact that it is difficult for one man to speak the praises and accolades of many fallen soldiers. On one hand a relative may underestimate what Prices had to say about their brother, father, or son. On the there, a complete stranger would have a hard time believing in something so radical because they themselves had never had such an experience. Prices goes on to discuss the nature of Democracy in Athens, stating that their laws afford equal Justice to all. Their laws did not cater to the rich or the poor, nor did social standing or class consideration have an effect on the rights of the citizens. The same concept applied to their personal lives. Year round celebrations of games and sacrifices helped to separate the life of work and duty, from the life of family. As government and social life went, so did the military aspect. Athens was a city that was open to the world. Never would a foreigner be excluded from the opportunity to learn or observe. Although a great concept, sometimes their enemies would learn quite valuable information from their open-city policy. To Prices this was not as big of a problem as it seems to the reader. He states that while their enemies march into battle with every last one of their allies, Athens will march into any territory unsupported. The Athenian citizen was proclaimed to be as self-sufficient and versatile as a human could possibly be. Prices says that there is Justice in a man who serves his country. A soldiers devotion to his people should act as a cloak to cover up their imperfections as a person. That their good deeds to the country should out way their misdeeds as an individual. The Athenians found honor in choosing to die defending the country they love rather than to live submitting to another nation. The Athenian soldier fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face, and after one brief moment, while at the summit of their fortune, escaped not from their fear, but from their glory. (Prices, 3) Strangely, the families found comfort in the death of their loved ones who perished in battle. There was no greater honor than to die on the battlefield defending the country in which they loved. The Athenian soldiers who gave their lives were seen as fortunate to be able to die in such a glorious way. Price s ends his oration by telling his people that the true burden of death lies with those still living. While the living Athenians contend with envy, the dead are honored tit a goodwill in which human emotions like Jealousy, envy, hatred, and, sorrow fallen will be raised until manhood by the expense of the public. Athens acted as a city of one big family, caring for the families of the fallen without question. The world could learn a great deal from the city of Athens and I believe that it would be a much better place to live in if that were the case. Sources: Duchesses (C. 460/455-c. 399 BCC): Peloponnesus war, kick 2. 34-46 Http www. Fordham. Du/halls/ancient/prices-functionaries. Asp 8/24/2013