Question Home

Position:Home>History> Why was Alcibiades killed?


Question: Why was Alcibiades killed!?
I'm positive that in the book, "Tides of War", Alcibiades was the cause for his own downfall!. Why was he killed!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The Spartans considered that with Alcibiades still alive, there was always a chance Athens would rise again, especially it his eloquence got the Persian King round to his side!. So that's why they had him killed!.
In the end the Persians did change sides and, with their support, the new Athenian fleet defeated the Spartans and the battle of Cnidus (392 BC)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Much about Alcibiades' death is now uncertain, as there are conflicting accounts!. According to the oldest of these, the Spartans and specifically Lysander were responsible!. Though many of his details cannot be independently corroborated, Plutarch's version is this: Lysander sent an envoy to Pharnabazus who then dispatched his brother to Phrygia where Alcibiades was living with his mistress, Timandra!. 404 BC, as he was about to set out for the Persian court, his residence was surrounded and set on fire!. Seeing no chance of escape he rushed out on his assassins, dagger in hand, and was killed by a shower of arrows!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

With one exception, Alcibiades' role in the war ended with his command!. Prior to the Battle of Aegospotami, in the last attested fact of his career,[95] Alcibiades recognized that the Athenians were anchored in a tactically disadvantageous spot and advised them to move to Sestus where they could benefit from a harbor and a city!.[96] Diodorus, however, does not mention this advice, arguing instead that Alcibiades offered the Generals Thracian aid in exchange for a share in the command!.g[?] In any case, the Generals of the Athenians, "considering that in case of defeat the blame would attach to them and that in case of success all men would attribute it to Alcibiades", asked him to leave and not come near the camp ever again!.[96][97] Days later the fleet would be annihilated by Lysander!.

After the Battle of Aegospotami, Alcibiades crossed the Hellespont and took refuge in Phrygia, with the object of securing the aid of Artaxerxes against Sparta!.

Much about Alcibiades' death is now uncertain, as there are conflicting accounts!. According to the oldest of these, the Spartans and specifically Lysander were responsible!.[98] Though many of his details cannot be independently corroborated, Plutarch's version is this: Lysander sent an envoy to Pharnabazus who then dispatched his brother to Phrygia where Alcibiades was living with his mistress, Timandra!.h[?] In 404 BC, as he was about to set out for the Persian court, his residence was surrounded and set on fire!. Seeing no chance of escape he rushed out on his assassins, dagger in hand, and was killed by a shower of arrows!.[99] According to Aristotle, the site of Alcibiades’ death was Elaphus, a mountain in Phrygia!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com