Asked by Gabriel

Read the excerpt from Pericles’s funeral oration by Thucydides.


When our work is over, we are in a position to enjoy all kinds of recreation for our spirits. There are various kinds of contests and sacrifices regularly throughout the year; in our own homes we find a beauty and a good taste which delight us every day and which drive away our cares. Then the greatness of our city [Athens] brings it about that all the good things from all over the world flow in to us, so that to us it seems just as natural to enjoy foreign goods as our own local products.

What is the speaker’s primary purpose in this excerpt?

to convince the audience that they are lucky to live in Athens
to persuade foreigners in the audience to move to Athens
to inform the audience of ways Athens is superior to other cities
to entertain the audience with a list of the best things about Athens

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
to convince the audience that they are lucky to live in Athens

The passage praises Athens’ festivals, homes, and access to goods, aiming to instill civic pride and make listeners feel fortunate to be Athenians.