Question 1

True or false: Alcibiades was a student of Socrates and later became a philosopher himself.

Accepted Answer

False. He was indeed a student of Socrates, but he never became a philosopher; he was a charismatic general and politician, notorious for switching sides.

Question 2

True or false: Ancient sources describe Alcibiades as so charismatic that even his enemies admired his speaking ability.

Accepted Answer

True. Plutarch wrote that Alcibiades' charm was irresistible, and even those who hated him were won over in conversation. Thucydides also highlighted his persuasive skill.

Question 3

True or false: Alcibiades once cut off his dog's tail to give Athenians something to talk about.

Accepted Answer

True. Plutarch records this shocking stunt: Alcibiades cut off his handsome dog's tail so people would gossip about him instead of his political scandals.

Question 4

True or false: Alcibiades once proposed a law to ban all comedies mocking him in Athens.

Accepted Answer

False. No such law exists. In fact, Athenian comedies frequently mocked him, and he famously tolerated or even enjoyed the attention.

Question 5

True or false: Alcibiades was killed by a Spartan assassin while hiding in a temple.

Accepted Answer

False. He was assassinated in Phrygia by Persian agents (or possibly Spartan), but not in a temple—he died in a hail of arrows near his house.

Question 6

True or false: Alcibiades was the nephew of the famous statesman Pericles.

Accepted Answer

False. Alcibiades was a relative of Pericles (his mother Deinomache was Pericles' cousin), not his nephew. Pericles served as his guardian after his father's death.

Question 7

True or false: Alcibiades personally convinced the Persian king to fund his return to Athens.

Accepted Answer

False. He befriended Persian satraps like Tissaphernes but never met the Great King. The funding came indirectly, not from the king himself.

Question 8

True or false: Alcibiades was appointed a general by both Athens and Sparta at different times.

Accepted Answer

False. Alcibiades was an Athenian general who later defected to Sparta and became a military advisor, but he was never formally appointed as a Spartan general.

Alcibiades Trivia Questions