The age of Pericles - 490-429 BC
The Delian League marked the begin-fling of the Golden Age of Greece which for thirty years was dominated by one of the most outstanding men in history —Pericles (49o—429 BC). He was the son of noble parents who provided him, when a youth, with the finest and most advanced teachers of the day.
By 461 BC he had become one of the leaders of the democratic party, assuming control when its leader, Ephialtes, was assassinated. He carried the democratic system further, insisting that every officer of state, except the generals and judges, were to be chosen by lot. Also, any person carrying out such civic duties was to be paid accordingly, thus allowing even the poorest citizen to become an office-holder.
His work was interrupted by war with Athens’ great rival, Sparta, which broke out in 456 BC, Pericles becoming one of the Athenian generals. War ended in 451 BC and Pericles was able to devote himself to the rebuilding of his capital city. Much of it had been burned by the enemy during the Persian wars and Pericles resolved to make Athens the most beautiful city in the world. He engaged the greatest architects (Ictinus and Callicrates) and sculptor (Pheidias) and these men produced the magnificent Parthenon, high on the Acropolis.
He did more than rebuild Athens architecturally, he also did much to rebuild men’s minds. In addition to the architects and sculptors he gathered together a number of men whose influence has lasted to the present day — Sophocles and Euripedes, the great dramatists, Anaxagoras who spoke about the solar system and Herodotus, the greatest historian of the ancient world, who gave lectures on his travels.
He again led his country to war against the Spartans in 431 BC, the time of the Great Peloponnesian War during which, dissatisfied with his strategy, he was deposed by the Council but reinstated before his death two years later.
Historical Armouries manufacturers of authentic historical arms an armour of any Century.
Historical Arms and Armour Institute was established a few years ago by a group of dedicated men, who hold to their heart and have great concern towards our rich European culture, especially that of Malta, The Island of the Great Siege of 1565, the island where the era of the Knight was eased out., Amongst others Historical Arms and Armour Institute have Master craftsmen and Master armourers who have been producing functional authentic replicas of Arms and Armour for the past twenty-five years of experience in professional consultancy in all the stages required for manufacturing of Arms and Armour. Historical Arms and Armour Institute have produced pieces of armour, for local museums such as The Palace Armoury, Palazzo Falzone and also for the Malta International Airport, of which a showcase with our armour is on display at the Arrivals section (look it up on your next trip to Malta). Historical Arms and Armour Institute have also been commissioned by Heritage Malta to recreate missing pieces for original armour presently on display at the Palace armoury and in European Union.
Michael Tabone