Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives, Vol. II. Perrin, Bernadotte, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1914.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a biography depicting the life of Aristides, an ancient Athenian statesman renowned as "the Just." The narrative begins by illustrating his selfless character and his political rivalry with his contrasting adversary, Themistocles. Despite being ostracized by the citizens due to jealousy over his immense justice, Aristides was recalled during the Persian invasion and guided Greece to victory with his strategic wisdom and mediation at Salamis and Plataea. After the war, he earned the deep trust of the allies by fairly assessing the tribute for the Delian League, thereby securing Athens' hegemony. Maintaining his utmost poverty and nobility throughout his life, his virtues were so highly esteemed that the Athenian state protected his descendants after his death.