Pericles' funeral oration

Athenian statesman, orator and general (c. – BC)

For other uses, see Pericles (disambiguation).

Pericles (, Ancient Greek: Περικλῆς; c.&#; – BC) was a Greek politician and general during the Golden Age of Athens.

He was prominent and influential in Ancient Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and was acclaimed by Thucydides, a contemporary historian, as "the first citizen of Athens".^[1] Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War.

The period during which he led Athens as Archon (ruler), roughly from to BC, is sometimes known as the "Age of Pericles", but the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars or as late as the following century.

Pericles promoted the arts and literature, and it was principally through his efforts that Athens acquired the reputation of being the educational and cultura