Publisher's Synopsis
The story of Alcibiades commences with Alcibiades a teenager being brought up on the Pericles Estate under the guardianship of Pericles' brother, Ariphron, his teacher Zopyrus and mentor Socrates. It tells of his rise to prominence in Athens as an influential orator, statesman and hoplite in the Athenian military. Having survived the plague and at the age of thirty, Alcibiades is made a general and proposes an expedition to Sicily to expand the Empire to maintain Athens' security and to preserve the democracy in the face of the Spartans. Over one hundred triremes are prepared for war with Alcibiades, Nicias and Lamachus as co generals. On the eve of their departure, charges, which were later deemed false, were brought against Alcibiades resulting in him being recalled to Athens to face trial leaving Nicias in charge of the expedition, which had disastrous consequences for Athens.It tells of Alcibiades' time in Sparta advising King Pleistoanax where had he a son to a Queen of Sparta and his time in the palace of the Persian satrap Tissaphernes advising him on all Greek matters.Alcibiades is recalled as a general with Athens' major Aegean fleet on the island of Samos and after securing Athens' security triumphantly returns to Athens and is made head of the military in the war with Sparta.Alcibiades did not lose any battles in which he was the Commander.
