A Rhetorical Analysis Of Pericles Funeral Oration

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By the late 5th century, it had become an established Athenian tradition to hold communal funerals to pay respect to soldiers that perished during combat. The “soul cases” of the dead were displayed in a single tent for three days for offerings to be made. After the third day, a cavalcade was held, with ten cypress coffins carrying the bodies of the dead, one for each of the Athenian tribes, and another for indistinguishable bodies, afterwards the war heroes were buried at a public grave. The last part of the rite was a speech delivered by an influential Athenian citizen.
“Pericles' Funeral Oration” is not only a compelling speech but, a patriotic one as well delivered by Pericles, a prominent and influential Greek statesman, rhetorician, and general of Athens during the Golden Age, at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (431-430 BC) as a part of the annual public funeral held for fallen soldiers. In addition to honoring and memorializing soldiers that lost their lives during battle, the speech was also to panegyrize the uniqueness and rectitude of Athens and its Athenian democracy. …show more content…
“I shall begin by speaking about our ancestors,” he begins, “since it is only right and proper on such an occasion to pay them the honor of recalling what they did.” By mentioning the forefathers of Athens, Pericles forms a strong essence with those in attendance. Athenians were deferential to the ones before their time that built, fought for, and were victors of the city in which they resided. Mentioning the forefathers is also to reference the role they had in creating such a significant and noble city that served as the blueprint for the first true
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