The Problems of Being Wealthy : The View of Archaic and Classical Greek Sources

It is no exaggeration to say that ancient Greeks were almost obsessed with wealth. From the archaic and classical period onwards, Greek poetry, philosophical and historical writings, as well as public speeches and theatre plays, variously tackle questions related to individual and public wealth. We even find Wealth (Ploutos) personified in vase paintings, reliefs, and, as a character, in theatre’s plays. 1 While ancient authors show scanty interest on economic and quantitative aspects related to wealth, they usually focus on how it is acquired and accumulated, how it is used, and its impact on the lives of individuals and cities. The purpose of this contribution is not that of providing a complete overview of these questions, but it is rather that of focusing on selected cases from the late archaic and classical period, which show, first, that Greek intellectuals were aware that the accumulation of wealth could potentially be problematic; second, that sumptuary laws limited the display of wealth in archaic and classical poleis; and third, that public discourse and political practice showed how private wealth could be employed in beneficial ways to the community.