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Aristides ( ; , ; 530–468 BC) was an Classical Athens politician. Nicknamed "the Just" (δίκαιος, díkaios), he flourished at the beginning of Athens' Classical Greece and is remembered for his generalship in the Persian War. The ancient historian Herodotus cited him as "the best and most honourable man in Athens",Herodotus, Histories, 8.79 and he received similarly reverent treatment in Plato's Socratic dialogues.
According to Plutarch, citing the philosopher Ariston of Ceos, the rivalry between Aristides and Themistocles began in their youth when they competed over the love of a boy: "... they were rivals for the affection of the beautiful Stesilaus of Ceos, and were passionate beyond all moderation."Plutarch, Themistocles, 3Plutarch, Aristides, 2 The conflict between the two leaders ended in the ostracism of Aristides at a date variously given between 485 and 482 BC. It is said that, on this occasion, an illiterate voter who did not recognise Aristides approached the statesman and requested that he write the name of Aristides on his Ostracon to ostracize him. The latter asked if Aristides had wronged him. "No," was the reply, "and I do not even know him, but it irritates me to hear him everywhere called 'the Just'." Aristides then wrote his own name on the ballot.Plutarch. Life of Aristeides, VII, 5–6.
Early in 480, Aristides profited by the decree recalling to help in the defence of Athens against Persian invaders, and was elected strategos for the year 480–479 BC. In the Battle of Salamis of September 480 BC, he gave loyal support to Themistocles, and crowned the victory by landing Athenian infantry on the island of Psyttaleia and annihilating the Persian garrison stationed there.
In 479 BC, he was re-elected strategos, and given special powers as commander of the Athenian forces at the Battle of Plataea of August 479 BC; he is also said to have suppressed a conspiracy among some in the army. He so won the confidence of the allies that, after they had revolted from the admiral Pausanias, they gave him the chief command and left him with absolute discretion in fixing the contributions of the newly formed (478 BC) confederacy, the Delian League. His assessment, universally accepted as equitable, continued as the basis of taxation for the greater part of the League's duration. He continued to hold a predominant position in Athens. At first he seems to have remained on good terms with Themistocles, whom he allegedly helped in outwitting the Spartans over the rebuilding of the walls of Athens.
Some authorities state that Aristides died at Athens, others that he perished on a journey to the Black Sea; the date of his death is given by Cornelius Nepos as 468 BC. He lived to witness the ostracism of Themistocles, towards whom he always displayed generosity, but he died before the rise of Pericles. His estate seems to have suffered severely from the Persian invasions, for apparently he did not leave enough money to defray the expenses of his burial, and it is known that his descendants – even in the 4th century – received state pensions.
In Plato's dialogue Theaetetus, Socrates refers to Aristides, the grandson of the famous Aristides, less positively, bringing him as an example of a student who leaves his care too soon and realizes later that he is a fool.Plato, Theaetetus 150d–151a
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