The fifth century B.C., a century of glory for Athens, gave birth to some of the most distinguished statesmen in history. They were the men that led Athens to its peak and gave her a unique place in history. The exploration into the lives and circumstances of people such as Themistocles, Aristides, Kimon or Pericles, is one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Greek history. Themistocles and Aristides were both political leaders, the former of the liberals, the latter of the conservatives. They both reached top offices in politics and there were times during which they fully enjoyed the respect both of Athenians and other Greek citizens.

Themistocles was one of those rare men in history who can analyse the circumstances, discern the correct course of action for long-term results and have the will to push for its realisation. He was characterized by a passion for glory that no obstacle, material or moral, could check. He had a pragmatic approach to politics and did not feel bound by patriotic sentiments: for him, the end justified the means and that is why he did not hesitate to change sides, when he thought it conducive to his purposes. He became archon at the age of 30 (493-2 B.C.) and general at the age of 33. He fought in the battle of Marathon together with Aristides. Overcoming the opposition of Miltiades, he convinced the city to build a strong navy and to move, organize and fortify port facilities in Piraeus. He then proceeded to organize the ostracism of his main political opponents and especially Aristides. At 481 B.C., the heralds of the Persian king arrived in Greece demanding the submission of the Greek city-states. The Greek alliance that was formed was lead by Themistocles, who forcefully imposed his strategies on the hesitant allies, leading them to two naval victories in Artemision and Salamis. After the Persian Wars he maintained an anti-Spartan policy and convinced the Athenians to build walls around the city. Thus by securing the city against land attacks and by making Athens the most significant naval power, Themistocles put the foundations of the Athenian Empire. At the same time his arrogance, his insatiable appetite for honors and glory and his flamboyant attitude, started to foster resentment among the citizens.

Aristides on the other hand, although he lacked the vision of Themistocles, chose to dedicate his life to the welfare of the city, consistent in his allegiance and the ways of virtue and justice, in essence becoming the ideal citizen. As such, he earned glory and the highest respect of his fellow citizens and other Greeks. His reputation for honesty contrasted with that of Themistocles. But it is doubtful whether their differences were anything but personal, or persisted after Aristides was ostracized. They worked together in destroying the Persians and laying the foundations of the Athenian Empire. Aristides won the elections following Salamis and after a while Themistocles was ostarcised. Themistocles was falsely accused of treason and fled to the Persian court. There he was treated with honours but when the king asked his help against Athens, Themistocles chose to commit suicide rather than betray the city that he glorified (461B.C.).

Born around 540 B.C., Aristides was just and honest. As general, in 490/489 he supported the plans of Miltiades at Marathon. In 482 he was ostracized, apparently as a result of a rivalry with Themistocles. Two years later, on the approach of the Persians, he was recalled in a general amnesty and held again the office of general for the next three years. He led the Athenians who, at a critical moment of the naval battle of Salamis, landed on the islet of Psytalea and destroyed the Persian force there; he commanded the Athenian army at Plataea and helped Themistocles secure the rebuilding of the walls of Athens. When the Delian League was formed under the leadership of Athens (in the spring of 477 B.C.), it was Aristides who fixed the quota of each participant state. Although at one stage he had been rich enough to stand for the office of archon, he died a poor man around 467 B.C..

Kimon was the first general to defeat the barbarians in their own territory and make the Aegean a Greek sea. He amassed great wealth for the city and had a pan-Hellenic outlook in politics, founded on the conviction that strong cities such as Sparta played a balancing role in Greek politics. His foreign policy, in contrast with the aggressive charisma of Pericles, was predominantly one of goodwill towards the allies, friendship with Sparta and war against the common enemy (the Persians). His abilities as general and the great number of victories he won caused fear to his opponents and established the Athenians as the dominant naval force in eastern Mediterranean. Son of Miltiades and a daughter of a Thracian king, Kimon was born c. 510 B.C.. His noble birth, his wealth and his connections soon made him very influential and he became the leader of the aristocratic party in opposition to Themistocles and later to Ephialtes and Pericles. A frequently elected general, he commanded several successful expeditions, he drove the Persians out of Thrace and Asia Minor and the pirates from the islands of the Aegean Sea. His greatest victory was near the river Eurymedon against the Persians. After this a treaty was signed by which the Persians practically gave up their claims on Europe. On two occasions he was prosecuted by the democrats: the first time (463) he was acquitted of a charge of having been bribed by the king of Macedonia, the second when he persuaded the Athenians to help Sparta against the helots who had revolted. The Spartans finally did not accept his help and sent him back to Athens to be ostracized in 461. He was recalled in 450 to run an expedition against Persia. He died during this campaign and he was buried with honors in Athens.