Source edition
Cornelius Nepos. Cornelii Nepotis Vitae. Fleckeisen, Alfred; Halm, Karl, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1886.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This biographical work depicts the turbulent life and noble character of Cimon, a prominent Athenian general and statesman. The narrative begins with his harsh youth, during which he was imprisoned due to a heavy fine inherited from his father, only to be released through the self-sacrificing marriage of his sister. Once freed, Cimon quickly rose to prominence, achieving great military victories against the Persians and enriching Athens. Although he later suffered ostracism, he was recalled in times of national crisis to broker peace with Sparta, eventually passing away from illness during an expedition to Cyprus. The biography concludes by highlighting his extraordinary generosity, depicting how he selflessly used his vast wealth to aid impoverished citizens.