Never has ever been a more charismatic, yet controversial figure in the history of Ancient Greece - or in the history of Greece as a whole. Alcibiades was a personage one couldn't ignore, whatever your feelings towards him were.
He was born in the mid of the 5th century BCE in Athens in the household of the Alcmaeonide, one of the most influential of the city. After the death of his father, he was put under the care of his uncle, Pericles. Alcibiades grew at a time where Athens reached its greatest glory, becoming the enlightening and cultural center of the Greek world, having the strongest navy in the Aegean and the Acropolis being adorned with marvelous buildings, such as the Parthenon.
He was notorious for his hedonistic lifestyle, often dressed in purple publicly, his insubordinate and rampant behavior, which caused him lots of trouble, and for his charisma and divine beauty, which saved him from said troubles and bewitched his peers, and there're countless anecdotes that have survived and shade a bit of light to his personality. One went that, as child while playing on the streets, a car crossed his path. Instead of fleeing, like his friends, Alcibiades stood on his position and demanded the car to stop until he finished his shot.
As a young aristocrat, he was Socrates' most dazzling—and troublesome—student. Plato’s Symposium depicts Alcibiades crashing a dinner party to drunkenly praise Socrates’ wisdom (while lamenting his own failures), framing their bond as unrequited love with philosophical undertones.
Alcibiades is mostly remembered for the massive role he played on the second part of The Peloponnesian War, where he orchestrated the Sicilian Expedition, promising his countrymen riches and eternal glory, provided they followed his leadership. His great opponent was the conservative Nicias who, despite his protests, ended up also leading said Expedition.
On the eve of his departure, a mysterious group mutilated the sacred Hermai statues citywide. Blamed despite shaky evidence, Alcibiades was demanded to return and be put on trial. Instead of following orders, he defected to Sparta, Athens’ mortal enemy. There, he advised them brilliantly, even sabotaging his own former plans, while allegedly seducing King Agis II’s wife, Queen Timaea.
Queen Timaea bore him a son and after the revelation of his true parentage became known, Alcibiades lost Sparta’s support and was forced to flee to Persia.
In Persia, Alcibiades advised Tissaphernes that Persia should prolong the war to weaken both Greek powers. Meanwhile, he secretly messaged Athens’ oligarchic faction, promising Persian aid if they overthrew the democracy… which they briefly did (411 BCE). But Alcibiades backed democracy’s restoration when it suited him—and was recalled to Athens in 407 BCE as a hero. His naval victories briefly revived Athenian hopes… until a minor defeat gave rivals the excuse to exile him again.
After Athens’ surrender in 404 BCE, he wandered the Aegean, dodging Spartan hitmen, Athenian grudges, and Persian double-crosses. In 404/3 BCE, he was assassinated in Phrygia—possibly on orders from Sparta’s Lysander, Athens’ Thirty Tyrants, or a jealous Persian satrap, and the killer(s) burned down the house he was in. Alcibiades emerged from the burning house, ready to face them, but a javelin pierced him in a vital spot, leading to his death. It was said that he was accompanied by a loyal courtesan, Timandra, who buried his body.
Alcibiades' tremendous life makes him the main focus in almost every retelling of The Peloponnesian War, as a lot of his actions fall into Alternative Character Interpretation. He's either a troublesome, yet charismatic individual with extraordinary abilities that no state took advantage of whenever he offered them his help, and thus, had every reason to betray them, or a narcissistic egomaniac who refused to behave and stay loyal to one side.
Recommended reading The Life of Alcibiades, Dangerous Ambition and the Betrayal of Athens by Jacqueline De Romilly.
Tropes as portrayed in fiction:
- Agent Peacock: He was known for dressing extravagantly, even in battle. That doesn't take from the fact that he was a skilled and formidable warrior and general.
- All Love Is Unrequited: Works that delve into his relationship with Socrates oftentimes present them having this dynamic, with Alcibiades failing to seduce an uninterested Socrates, who is invested into morphing his personality for the better.
- The Charmer: His natural charisma and good looks helped him gain tons of admirers and supporters. The number of his enemies, however, was equally as large.
- The Chess Master: The guy singlehandedly manipulated three major powers of the ancient world in his palm without breaking a sweat.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He betrayed Athens for Sparta. Then, Sparta for Persia. And finally, Persia for Athens. It should be noted that these betrayals came after he lost his favor and was betrayed by these states. He had no reason to stay loyal to a side, if said side disregarded him first.
- Depraved Bisexual: This man went out with everyone and everything.
- Genius Bruiser: A skilled orator and cavalry commander.
- Historical Hero Upgrade / Historical Villain Upgrade: Expect any work featuring him to lean into one of these.
- Ignored Expert: Before the last major battle of the Peloponessian War, he came to the Athenian commanders and pointed out they picked a bad spot for stationing the fleet. They sent him away. Three days later, the fleet was captured... no, not in a Curb-Stomp Battle; without battle.
- World's Most Handsome Man: Though there are no surviving texts about his appearance, he was infamous for his beauty, which enhanced his persuasive might.
Alcibiades in fiction:
Art
- A rather popular subject in neoclassical paintings was Socrates dragging him from courtesans' houses, as depicted in "Alcibiades being taught by Socrates"
, "Socrates Seeking Alcibiades in the house of Aspasia"◊, "Socrates tears Alcibiades from the embrace of Sensual Pleasure", "Socrate scopre Alcibiade in un bordello◊, Socrates Chiding Alcibiades in Home of a Courtesan◊ etc. - Another popular subject is that of his dramatic death, like "The death of Alcibiades", "Death of Alcibiades", "The death of Alcibiades (by Jacques-Louis David) and Michele De Napoli’s "The Death of Alcibiades"◊.
Comic Books
- He's mentioned briefly in the Orion trilogy, a Franco-Belgian Comic written and illustrated by Jacques Martin (most famous for Alix), while hanging out with Socrates.
Literature
- He's paired with Coriolanus in Plutarch' Parallel Lives.
- He's featured in some of Plato's dialogues, most notably in Alcibiades I and II and in Symposium, where he unsuccessfully attempts to woe Socrates.
- Alkiviades by Charles H. Bromby is one of the earliest novels about him.
- The Flowers of Adonis by Rosemary Sutcliff does focus on him through the lenses of various figures who have interacted with him.
- Mary Renault's The Last of the Wine, where he's a major character.
- Similarly, to Steven Pressfield's Tides of War.
Music
- The Concept Album "The Rise and Fall of Athens" has dedicated a song for him, titled after himself.
Video Games
- The Assassin's Creed: Odyssey has him as a recurring character, a hedonistic individual before he becomes popular.
Webcomic
- Featured in Everywhere & Nowhere as Pretty Boy who gets along with everyone and everything. He's one of the first historical figures the Heroes meet and he even appears in later chapters.
Web Original
- Blue from Overly Sarcastic Productions has dedicated an episode for him.
Western Animation
- Mentioned briefly in the Il Était Une Fois...' sixth episode Il Etait Une Fois Man E 06 The Age Of Pericles, as one of the many Athenians ostracized.