Alcibiades
Alcibiades was a Greek politician and military general, known for his betrayal of Athens during the Peloponnesian War. He was born to a wealthy Athenian family in 450 B.C.E and grew up to be attractive and intelligent as well as self-centered and reckless. He was fascinated by Socrates, in particular by his powerful intellect and moral strength. Socrates thought Alcibiades was a promising young man, but eventually Alcibiades stopped trying to attain the kind of moral strength Socrates favored, and instead began pursuing politics in search of material rewards. Socrates did not support this decision.
In 415 he persuaded the Athenians to launch an attack against the city of Syracuse. However, days before he was meant to set sail, several Hermae were mutilated (statues of Hermes consisting of a head, a rectangular midsection, and male genitalia). He and his friends were accused of mutilating them and charged with sacrilege. He wanted to stand trial immediately, but his enemies ensured that he set sail while still under suspicion. He was recalled after reaching Sicily, and he found out that he had been sentenced to death without ever having stood trial. Thus, he escaped to Sparta and fed them inside information. This was a deciding factor in the Peloponnesian War and led to Sparta’s victory.
Meiggs, Russell. "Alcibiades." Encyclopædia Britannica, 21 Nov. 2012, www.britannica.com/biography/Alcibiades-Athenian-politician-and-general. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.
In 415 he persuaded the Athenians to launch an attack against the city of Syracuse. However, days before he was meant to set sail, several Hermae were mutilated (statues of Hermes consisting of a head, a rectangular midsection, and male genitalia). He and his friends were accused of mutilating them and charged with sacrilege. He wanted to stand trial immediately, but his enemies ensured that he set sail while still under suspicion. He was recalled after reaching Sicily, and he found out that he had been sentenced to death without ever having stood trial. Thus, he escaped to Sparta and fed them inside information. This was a deciding factor in the Peloponnesian War and led to Sparta’s victory.
Meiggs, Russell. "Alcibiades." Encyclopædia Britannica, 21 Nov. 2012, www.britannica.com/biography/Alcibiades-Athenian-politician-and-general. Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.