When Alcibiades was recalled to Athens, why was he not brought back as a prisoner but only asked (respectfully) to follow the Salaminian home?
LESSON 6 Introduction: Alcibiades knows it’s not safe for him to return to Athens. He escapes to Sparta and starts acting like a Spartan. An excellent Spartan; a fantastic Spartan–but it’s all outward appearance. (Compare this to St. Paul’s’ “all things to all men,” 1 Corinthians 9:22.) The story jumps ahead at one point by mentioning his stay with the Persian satrap Tisaphernes (sometimes spelled Tissaphernes), which occurs in the last part of the section but wasn’t until 412 B.C. There is also an intriguing description of Alcibiades’ personal charm, which enables him to win over Tisaphernes and influence him against the Spartans. Section to Read: From “Alcibiades, lying under these heavy decrees” to “into the hands of the Lacedaemonians, his enemies.” Optional omission: the section beginning “For while king Agis was absent, and abroad with the army” and ending “which was the reason that afterwards he was not admitted to the succession.” Vocabulary: he sent to Sparta – he sent word t
