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Pericles dies

429 BCE, Athens. An event.

Where and when

429 BCEAthens

2,454 years ago

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, Athens

Pericles, Athens' leading statesman, dies about two and a half years into the war.

He outlived its commencement two years and six months, and the correctness of his previsions respecting it became better known by his death.

Thucydides 2.65.6Translated by Richard Crawley (1874)Read the full passage (Thucydides 2.65.6, opens scaife.perseus.org)

Background: Pericles, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

The historian Donald Kagan argues that Pericles's war strategy depended on Pericles himself to carry it out, and so was bound to be abandoned after his death.

Based on Wikipedia: Pericles

Kagan criticises the Periclean strategy on four counts: first that by rejecting minor concessions it brought about war; second, that it was unforeseen by the enemy and hence lacked credibility; third, that it was too feeble to exploit any opportunities; and fourth, that it depended on Pericles for its execution and thus was bound to be abandoned after his death.

Wikipedia, Pericles (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-27. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 431 BCE2 years earlier Thebans attack Plataea and the war begins Same years
  2. 431 BCE1.8999999999999773 years earlier Spartan army invades Attica Same years
  3. 430 BCE, written later1 year earlier Thucydides on Pericles Rests on this event
  4. 430 BCE1 year earlier Plague breaks out in Athens Same years
  5. 431/430 BCE1 year earlier Athens holds a public funeral for its first war dead Also about death
  6. set in 431/430 BCE1 year earlier Pericles honors the war dead Also about death
  7. 429 BCEThis momentPericles dies
  8. set in 429 BCESame year Pericles on his deathbed Rests on this event
  9. c. 429 BCEAbout the same year Oedipus demands to learn his birth Also in Athens
  10. c. 429 BCEAbout the same year Iocasta on living at random Also in Athens
  11. c. 429 BCEAbout the same year Oedipus on his city's sickness Also in Athens

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