12. Ancient Athens’ Most Beautiful Youth Was Pursued by Would-Be Lovers
Alcibiades (450 – 404 BC) was a brilliant and unscrupulous Athenian politician and general who roiled Ancient Athens and turned it upside down, and inside and out. A relative of Pericles, he did not share his famous kinsman’s probity or commitment to democracy. Instead, he was perhaps the most dynamic, adventurous, fascinating, and catastrophic Athenian leader of the Classical era. Alcibiades was born into a wealthy family, and his father fell when Alcibiades was a toddler. So Pericles became his guardian.
However, Pericles was too busy with his duties as a statesman to provide the boy with the necessary guidance. Alcibiades thus grew into a dissipated man, whose gifts of brilliance and charm were counterbalanced by self-centeredness, irresponsibility, extravagance, and debauchery. Growing up, Alcibiades was considered Athens’ most beautiful youth, in an era when pederasty was widespread and acceptable. He was passionately pursued by many who sought to be his male lovers, and showered with gifts and flattery. Even Socrates was among his admirers.