History of the Peloponnesian War · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.
Alcibiades
major
Athenian general and politician who defected to Sparta and later Persia.
Nicias
major
Also known as Nicias, son of Niceratus
Athenian general and statesman, leader of the Sicilian Expedition.
Demosthenes
major
Also known as Demosthenes, son of Cratesicles
Athenian general known for his bold tactics in the Peloponnesian War.
Brasidas
major
Also known as the Lacedaemonian Brasidas
Spartan commander renowned for his campaigns in Thrace.
Pericles
major
Athenian leader who guided Athens during its golden age and early war.
Cleon
major
Athenian demagogue and general, a rival of Nicias.
Gylippus
major
Spartan general who led the Syracusan defense against Athens.
Hermocrates
major
Syracusan statesman and general who opposed Athenian expansion.
Tissaphernes
supporting
Persian satrap who allied with Sparta against Athens.
Archidamus
supporting
Also known as King Archidamus
Spartan king who led early invasions of Attica.
Agis
supporting
Also known as King Agis
Spartan king who commanded forces later in the war.
Pausanias
supporting
Also known as King Pausanias, Pausanias the Lacedaemonian
Spartan regent and general during the Persian Wars.
Themistocles
supporting
Athenian statesman who built its navy and later fled to Persia.
Phormio
supporting
Athenian admiral known for naval victories early in the war.
Perdiccas
supporting
King of Macedon who shifted alliances between Athens and Sparta.
Sitalces
supporting
Thracian king who allied with Athens during the war.
Phrynichus
supporting
Athenian general and oligarchic conspirator.
Astyochus
supporting
Spartan admiral who commanded the Peloponnesian fleet.
Alcidas
supporting
Spartan commander who led naval operations in Ionia.
Paches
supporting
Athenian general who suppressed the Mytilenean revolt.
Hippias
minor
Also known as the tyrant Hippias
Athenian tyrant who later aided the Persians.
Harmodius
minor
Assassin of the tyrant Hipparchus, celebrated as a liberator.
Aristogiton
minor
Co-conspirator with Harmodius in the assassination of Hipparchus.
Lamachus
supporting
Athenian general who died in the Sicilian Expedition.
Eurymedon
supporting
Athenian general and admiral active in the war.
Laches
supporting
Athenian general who negotiated a truce with Sparta.
Thrasybulus
supporting
Athenian general who restored democracy after the war.
Theramenes
supporting
Athenian politician and general, key figure in the oligarchic coup.
Antiphon
minor
Athenian orator and architect of the Four Hundred oligarchy.
Pisander
minor
Athenian oligarch who helped establish the Four Hundred.
Charicles
minor
Athenian general and member of the oligarchic regime.
Diomedon
minor
Athenian general executed after the Battle of Arginusae.
Thrasyllus
minor
Athenian general and democratic leader.
Strombichides
minor
Athenian admiral active in the Ionian War.
Mindarus
minor
Spartan admiral who died at the Battle of Cyzicus.
Pharnabazus
supporting
Persian satrap who allied with Sparta against Athens.
Artabazus
minor
Persian general and satrap involved in the war.
Darius
minor
Also known as King Darius
Persian king who financed the Peloponnesian War.
Xerxes
minor
Also known as King Xerxes
Persian king who invaded Greece in the earlier war.
Cyrus
minor
Also known as King Cyrus
Persian prince who supported Sparta with funds.
Homer
minor
Ancient Greek poet referenced as an authority.
Agamemnon
minor
Mythical king of Mycenae, leader of the Trojan War.
Theseus
minor
Legendary Athenian king and founder of the city.
Minos
minor
Mythical king of Crete, first to control the sea.
Eurystheus
minor
Mythical king of Mycenae who set Hercules' labors.
Atreus
minor
Mythical king of Mycenae, father of Agamemnon.
Pandion
minor
Mythical king of Athens, father of Procne and Philomela.
Polycrates
minor
Tyrant of Samos who built a powerful navy.
Pisistratus
minor
Athenian tyrant who ruled in the 6th century BC.
Cimon
minor
Athenian statesman and general, son of Miltiades.
Aristides
minor
Athenian statesman known as 'the Just'.
Callias
minor
Athenian diplomat who negotiated the Peace of Callias.
Hagnon
minor
Athenian general and founder of Amphipolis.
Hippocrates
minor
Athenian general who died at the Battle of Delium.
Pagondas
minor
Boeotian general who won the Battle of Delium.
Aristaeus
minor
Also known as the Corinthian Aristeus
Corinthian general who fought at Potidaea.
Cnemus
minor
Spartan admiral early in the war.
Melesippus
minor
Spartan envoy to Athens before the war.
Clearidas
minor
Spartan commander at Amphipolis under Brasidas.
Pedaritus
minor
Spartan governor of Chios who died in battle.
Alcamenes
minor
Spartan general sent to aid Chios.
Endius
minor
Spartan ephor and diplomat.
Dercyllidas
minor
Spartan general known for his cunning.
Agesandridas
minor
Spartan admiral who fought at Eretria.
Therimenes
minor
Spartan commander who died in battle.
Chalcideus
minor
Also known as the Lacedaemonian Chalcideus
Spartan admiral who negotiated with Tissaphernes.
Leon
minor
Also known as son of Leon
Spartan commander sent to Chios.
Antisthenes
minor
Spartan envoy to the fleet.
Ischagoras
minor
Also known as the Lacedaemonian Ischagoras
Spartan officer sent to Thrace.
Ramphias
minor
Spartan general sent to Thrace.
Philocharidas
minor
Spartan signatory to the Peace of Nicias.
Xenares
minor
Spartan ephor who opposed the Peace of Nicias.
Epitadas
minor
Spartan commander on Sphacteria who died.
Styphon
minor
Spartan officer who surrendered on Sphacteria.
Pasitelidas
minor
Spartan commander who lost Torone to Athens.
Polydamidas
minor
Spartan commander at Mende.
Gongylus
minor
Corinthian general who aided Syracuse.
Salaethus
minor
Spartan envoy to Mytilene who surrendered.
Diodotus
minor
Athenian orator who argued against executing Mytilene.
Eurylochus
minor
Spartan general who died in Acarnania.
Menedaius
minor
Spartan commander in Acarnania.
Asopius
minor
Athenian general who raided the Peloponnese.
Cleopompus
minor
Athenian general who blockaded the Peloponnese.
Nymphodorus
minor
Athenian proxenos who negotiated with Sitalces.
