BC470-451 Pericles and Ephialtes of Athens

In the twenty years from 470-451 BC Pericles (pictured) and Ephialtes led Athens at the time of the war between Athens and Sparta in 458 BC.

After the Greek victory at the Battle of the Eurymedon in 466 BC, the Persians were no longer a threat and the other Greek states were no longer willing to submit to Athenian leadership. Naxos tried to secede from the Delian League, but was forced to submit.

After the fall of the conservative politician Cimon in 461 BC, the new Athenian leaders, Pericles and Ephialtes, clashed with Sparta and in 458 BC war broke out.

The war was inconclusive but did lead to a truce lasting 30 years between the Delian League (led by Athens) and the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta) which enabled the Greeks to fight another battle with the Persians -- a sea battle off Salamis in Cyprus.