Elpinice

Elpinice was a daughter of Miltiades ( the Younger ), the victor of Marathon, and the Thracian king's daughter Hegesipyle. It is one of the most remarkable women of her era in Greece. Kimon (c. 510 BC; † 449 BC), who later became the Athenian statesman and general, was her half-brother. Elpinikes accurate survival data are not known.

Elpinice came as her brother from the old Athenian aristocratic family of Philaiden. The information that she was a half sister of Cimon, based on evidence that both long time lived together as husband and wife, which was half-siblings who did not have the same mother, allowed by the then Athenian laws.

Her brother Cimon, but lost later forced to separate from her, as her father had died Miltiades 489 BC in jail without it, for a military defeat, for which he was blamed, could pay the heavy fine of 50 talents was then decreed the Atimie ( loss of civil rights ) to her brother Cimon over, who was also unable to pay the debt.

From this fatal situation Kimon but was saved by the beauty of his sister: The rich Athenian Callias fell in love Elpinice and negotiated - such as Cornelius Nepos reports - therefore with Kimon, that he gave him to wife: you fill his desire, he would pay the money for him. However, since this had such a proffer of himself declared Elpinice, they will not tolerate, that the son of Miltiades die in prison because they could prevent it now, and they 'll get married Callias, when he had fulfilled his promise. Callias paid the penalty for her brother, so that Kimon could re-enter all civil rights and begin to make career in politics, but Elpinice Callias had to leave.

From the marriage of Callias and Elpinice was (probably) out of Hipponicus son, who was later to be the richest Athenians of his time. The grandchildren were Elpinikes Hipponicus ' Callias son and daughter Hipparete ( the future wife of Alcibiades ).

From a campaign in Thrace Kimon 463 BC brought the painter Polygnotos of Thasos to Athens, which was quickly became famous there. He painted, among other things, the Stoa Poecile at Athens and with support for the portrait of Elpinice have placed among the depicted there the Trojan women. Detractors said the two then after a love affair. The well-known friendship with the painter to his patron Kimon, Elpinikes brother, but enough to explain and justify this salute.

As Kimon was accused of bribes from Alexander I, King of Macedon believed to Elpinice went to Pericles, who was the leader of the Democratic Party of the sharpest political opponents of her brother, and asked for Kimon. Pericles they had ( even having regard to their age, you will no longer allow such interventions ) although quite rugged back, but he supported the charges against Kimon in the process only powerless and formal.

Cimon, who was banished BC by a ostracism of Athens in 462/1 is said to have negotiated later Elpinice with Pericles also on the conditions under which he could return from exile. 451 BC, Cimon was allowed to enter his own country again, and brought a temporary truce with Sparta concluded.

Elpinikes date of death is not known. Plutarch reports that the famous historian Thucydides, who was related to her, was buried in Athens, near the tomb of Elpinice among the graves of the kimonischen family.

Swell

• Cornelius Nepos: Kimon. (Section I)
• Herodotus: nine books on the history. (Book VI. , Chap. 132-136 )
• Plutarch: Lives. Books Kimon ( Ch. 4 and 14) and Pericles ( Ch. 10 and 28).