Political leadership and the enduring tension between ethical ideals and pragmatic action What makes a good political leader? This volume explores a central question in the work of Plutarch of Chaeronea, one of antiquity’s most influential moral and political thinkers. Drawing on ten case studies, it shows how Plutarch used famous figures from the Greek and Roman past to reflect on leadership in his own time under Roman rule. The chapters in this edited collection reveal how leaders were often forced to balance ideals with practical demands, facing difficult choices between principle and praxis. They present a world in which ambition, ethics, and responsibility to the community are constantly in tension. Bringing together contributions from both established and early-career scholars, the book offers fresh insights into Plutarch’s political thinking and his reflections on leadership which continue to resonate today. By bridging theory and practice, it will appeal both to specialists in Plutarch and to readers interested in ancient political thought. Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Joaquim Pinheiro and Laurens van der Wiel Plutarch’s Lycurgus: A Classical and Contemporary Model for the Politikos in the High Empire Carmine Nastri The Mythical Politikos as a Role Model: Plutarch’s Lycurgus Iris Sulimani Romulus vs. Numa: The Development of the Politikos in Roman Monarchy According to Plutarch Serena Emilia Di Salvatore Doing What the Situation Requires: Insights from Solon, Themistocles, Cato Minor, and Caesar Susan Jacobs Pericles’ Political Theatre in the Construction of Democracy Renan Liparotti Phocion’s Rhetoric as a Key for the Political Use of History in Praecepta gerendae reipublicae Maria Serena Chiodo The Statesman and the Love of Wealth: Exploring the Moralia and the Lives Alessandro Fino Φυσικόν and πολιτικόν: Themistocles and Alcibiades from a Plutarchan Perspective Giulia Tardio Was Antony Controlled By Women? Plutarch’s Perspective Borja Méndez Santiago The Statesman as Doctor: The Use of Medical Metaphors in Plutarch’s Lives Francesca Gaudiano Bibliography Notes on Contributors General Index