Pericles and the Treasuries

In Thuc. II.13 Pericles gives an interesting survey of the Athenian financial landscape. He lists major sources of revenue:

1. contributions from allies - 600 talents
2. coined silver stored in the Acropolis - 6,000 talents
3. uncoined gold and silver offerings made by individuals and the state
4. sacred vessels and furniture used in the processions and in the games
5. spoils taken from the Persians
6. money kept in other temples
7. gold from the statue of Athene herself (forty talents removable)

Pericles makes it clear that all these sources should be used in the Athenian's time of crisis. Thucydides paraphrases Pericles' argument:

"...the strength of Athens came from the money paid in tribute by her allies, and victory in war depended on a combination of intelligent resolution and financial resources."

Clearly the money is for military purposes, not religious propitiation.

Faith and Leadership

This article on the presidential candidates relates to my research. Are Obama and McCain truly religious? Who knows. But they clearly feel pressured to appear so.

Religion and People

Parker on religion:

Even the philosophers (when not thinking theologically) constantly see religious practice as a medium of association not between man and god but between man and man. (1)

Parker's Athenian Religion is an important source for learning about Athenian religious practices. He persuasively shows that religion was very much about community and the experience of doing something together, socially. This is consistent with philosophical theories on religion in any time period.

The social value of religion is important for me because it helps show the power of religion as a motivating tool. People accused of religious violations, such as Alcibiades, were being accused of violating social rules, too. As such they ran the risk of not just being religiously punished, but of being socially ostracized. Indeed, a common punishment for religious violations not considered bad enough to warrant the death penalty was a ban from religious ceremonies, and thus from much of the socializing of Athens.