Signs of identity in the Plutarchian Lives of Aristides, Themistocles and Cimon

Abstract

This paper deals with three pairs of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, whose Greek protagonists played a central role in the Hellenic triumph over the Persians: Aristides, Themistocles, and Cimon. We will analyze the Lives of these three Greeks who contributed decisively to cementing the Athenian identity, in relation to their lineage, education, character, virtues and death, in contrast to the Romans placed in parallel with them (Marcus Cato, Camillus and Lucullus), in order to observe if in these aspects there are differentiating traits between Greeks and Romans.