The Athenian Way: For Our Allies, Subjects and Neighbours

By: Pericles

Authors

  • Mary Harper University of Waterloo & the Balsillie School of International Affairs

Keywords:

Athens, Pericles, Democracy, Demos, Creative Piece

Abstract

In my years of service to the Athenian demos I have been asked by many men both worldly and intelligent how the Athenian system works, and why? Ironically, I must begin my explanation by discrediting myself in many people's eyes. I am asked habitually “as Athens’ ruler why ….” and I am no such thing. Athens has no ruler, I am merely a citizen who has had the honour to serve as one of ten strategoi several times throughout my career. I know no offence is meant by these allegations, but still I must fervently diminish them. My fellow Athenians do not take kindly to such ambitions and I have no aspirations to be ostracized. Nonetheless, I will attempt to explain the ways of my people and justify my fondness for them.

Author Biography

Mary Harper, University of Waterloo & the Balsillie School of International Affairs

Mary Harper is a MA candidate at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Waterloo (2021-2025) with a major in Political Science and minors in Classical and Legal Studies. She is particularly interested in the political systems of Classical Greece and Republican Rome.

 

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Published

05.10.2025

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Epic Threads: Epithets

Section

Creative Pieces

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License

Copyright (c) 2025 Mary Harper

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0

This license enables reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.