TOPONYMIA PERICLES HIS WORDS FOR ALL OF ATHENS born c. 495 BC; Athens died 429; Athens Athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development; in the later 5th century BC; of both the Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire; making Athens the political and cultural focus of Greece. His achievements included the construction of the Acropolis; begun in 447. In a funeral oration in 430 BC for those who had fallen in the Peloponnesian War; the Athenian leader Pericles described democratic Athens as 韙he school of Hellas. ?Among the city's many exemplary qualities; he declared; was its constitution; which 韋avors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. ?Pericles continued: 鞩f we look to the laws; they afford equal justice to all in their private HIS WORDS FOR ALL OF ATHENS born c. 495 BC; Athens died 429; Athens Athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development; in the later 5th century BC; of both the Athenian democracy and the Athenian empire; making Athens the political and cultural focus of Greece. His achievements included the construction of the Acropolis; begun in 447. In a funeral oration in 430 BC for those who had fallen in the Peloponnesian War; the Athenian leader Pericles described democratic Athens as 韙he school of Hellas. ?Among the city's many exemplary qualities; he declared; was its constitution; which 韋avors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. ?Pericles continued: 鞩f we look to the laws; they afford equal justice to all in their private differences; if to social standing; advancement in public life falls to reputation for capacity; class considerations not being allowed to interfere with merit; nor again does poverty bar the way; if a man is able to serve the state; he is not hindered by obscurity of his condition. The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life. ?