Corruption in Politics - Its An Old Game

[Steel Tiger]

It seems that monetary corruption can get to anyone.

The famous Spartan general Gylippus who defeated Nicias and Demosthenes and just about single-handedly turned the Syracusan campaign around during the Peloponnesian Wars fell foul of political corruption in the end.

After he had won in Sicily, the Spartan king, Lysander, entrusted him with a massive sum of money to be delivered to the ephors. Gylippus decided to keep the money. He was forced into exile as a result of a death sentence. The funny thing is his father also got caught out in a financial scandal. Looks like there were some interesting lessons in that household, or maybe it was a dodgy syssitia (mess club) that they were both members of.

If it can bring down a supposedly morally upright guy like this what chance do our politicians have ?

 

[Empty Hands]

If it can bring down a supposedly morally upright guy like this what chance do our politicians have ?

How do you conclude that the general was an "upright guy"? Was he known for being so? Winning a war, even in a brilliant fashion, doesn't make you moral.

 

[Steel Tiger]

How do you conclude that the general was an "upright guy"? Was he known for being so? Winning a war, even in a brilliant fashion, doesn't make you moral.

I'm sorry I should have included something that did actually suggest he was an upright man. How about this:

During the final stages of the Sicilian campaign he ordered that no captured soldiers be executed, in particular the Athenian generals Nicias and Demosthenes. Unfortunately the Syracusans were out for blood and executed a lot of prisoners including both Nicias and Demosthenes.

That shows some honour doesn't it?

There was clearly something about him as he was chosen for the expedition even though his father had been exiled for taking bribes (from Athenians) and there is a suggestion that his mother may have been a Helot. So there must have been something to recommend him to the Spartan kings. Simply fighting ability does not seem to have been enough to earn a command amongst that lot.