LEADERS & COMMANDERS

ALCIBIADES

NOTORIOUS FOR HIS LICENTIOUS LIFESTYLE, THE YOUNG ALCIBIADES WAS ALSO A TALENTED ATHENIAN GENERAL WHO PLAYED AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR C. 450-404 BCE ATHENS

The most important Athenian military leader of the second half of the Peloponnesian War was Alcibiades. Rising to prominence in the period of tense peace in between the Archidamian War and the Ionian War, in 415 BCE Alcibiades was named to be one of the commanders of the ill-fated expedition to Sicily under Nicias.

Right before the expeditionary fleet was to set sail, several statues around Athens were defaced, a terrible sacrilege. Alcibiades stood accused of having a part in this, but went to Sicily before he could stand trial. He was soon recalled, but knowing that he would be convicted by his enemies, he wisely headed for Sparta, where he found refuge. He advised the Spartans to send an officer to take command of the defence of Syracuse (this would