23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Reputation, Reputation! Perdikkas II's Struggles
Regina M. Loehr
Dr. Rebecca Harrison, Faculty Mentor
Perdikkas II, king of Macedon in the 5th century BC Peloponnesian Wars, attempted to prove his worth as king to his people throughout his succession and reign. In fending off rivals, he gained the international reputation as a breaker of promises. This paper attempts to analyze objectively the ancient sources for this king and to avoid applying information from later Macedonian kings, such as Alexander III (the Great), or from an Athenian perspective. By examining the succession of Perdikkas and the actions and motives of foreign powers, primarily Athens, one can better understand how Perdikkas acted according to internal Macedonian motivations to fulfill his duty as king. A Macedonian king had to prove himself among rivals as ὁ κρατιστός, the strongest, to the Macedonians themselves, in order to secure and maintain his position as king. Perdikkas's Macedonian reputation, based upon internal criteria, shows his true worth as Macedonian king.
Keywords: Macedon/Macedonia, Perdikkas II, monarchy, reputations, rivals, Peloponnesian War, Athens, ancient history
Topic(s):Classics
History
Greek
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 14-3
Location: VH 1324
Time: 8:30