Ostracism According to Plutarch

Reflections on an Interpretation and the Role of Envy in Them. 22.-5 and Arist. 7.2

Abstract

This paper aims to explore Plutarch’s theoretical interpretation of ostracism as depicted in the biographies of Themistocles and Aristides (Them. 22.4-5; Arist. 7.2). It seeks to demonstrate that the concept of envy (φθόνος) should not be considered an ‘alternative’ motivation to political factors, but rather integrated into a broader analytical framework. To support this argument, the study will assess Plutarch’s general evaluation of envy, with a particular focus on his treatise De invidia et odio. This comparative analysis will ultimately provide a more nuanced understanding of the role of φθόνος in the two theoretical passages under examination.