surnamed the Just, one of the most illustrious characters of antiquity for purity and integrity, was an Athenian by birth, and contemporary with Themistocles. His father was Lysimachus, a man of middle rank. His character from his youth gave sure promise of that greatness to which he afterwards rose. To a firm, resolute, and placid temper, he added an utter contempt of dissimulation, and an abhorrence of every thing dishonourable. He began very early to meditate on subjects of government, and applied to his studies with the greatest assiduity. He imbued a strong predilection for oligarchy upon becoming acquainted with the laws of Lycurgus, which excited his admiration, and gave him a distaste for the unlimited democracy then established in his native city. Themistocles, on the other hand, favoured democracy; and it has been said that even at school he was his constant antagonist on that point; but this story is incredible because of the difference of age between the two men. A perpetual opposition to one another in all political points was the consequence of this difference of opinion, when their abilities raised them to several important stations in the state. It is related, that one day having firmly opposed a proposal of Themistocles in the assembly, which in his own conscience he knew to be right, on coming out he exclaimed, "The affairs of the Athenians will never prosper till they throw both of us into the barathron" (the dungeons for condemned criminals).

Aristides was present at the battle of Marathon, B.C. 490, and was next in command among the Athenians to Miltiades; and on that general's proposing to join battle as soon as possible, he seconded his motion with zeal. In the field he distinguished himself by his valour and generosity; and being left after the battle to secure the spoils, he executed his trust with honour and fidelity, bringing all to the public account, reserving nothing for himself. He was elected to the important office of chief magistrate the year following; but, by the art of Themistocles, the high authority he had attained by his merits was at length converted into a means of overthrowing him, and he was accordingly banished by ostracism, B.C. 483. As the Persians were meditating a new invasion of Greece, he employed himself in his exile in encouraging the Greeks to defend their liberties against the invaders. At the critical moment when the hostile fleets were facing each other in the straits of Salamis, Aristides, Aristides, though still an exile, suspended all political animosities; and upon understanding that it was the design of Themistocles to fight the Persian navy in the straits, he waited on him in private, proposed an oblivion of all past circumstances, extolled his intentions, and gave him his sincere promise to assist him to the utmost in effecting his designs.

There is an anecdote, that Themistocles, some time after the battle of Salamis, acquainted the Athenians that he had formed a scheme which, although it was of such a nature as forbade his public avowal of it to them, was of inestimable advantage to the state. They immediately ordered that he should communicate it to Aristides. It was a project for consuming the whole confederate fleet of Greece by fire, except their own ships; that thus the entire sway of the sea might be left to the Athenian navy. Aristides replied that nothing could be more unjust, and at the same time nothing more advantageous, than the scheme of Themistocles. Upon this the people immediately determined to dismiss any further thought of it. Aristides, who must have returned from exile before the battle of Platæa, was of considerable service in persuading his countrymen, who were elated with their former successes, to submit to the superior power of the Spartans, and in preserving peace and amity between the confederate forces. He acquitted himself with high distinction in the engagement, and was appointed after the victory to determine a very dangerous dispute concerning the honour of the day, which he conferred upon the Platæans, giving up the claim of the Athenians, the Lacedæmonians following his example. On the rebuilding of Athens, he was the first person to promote a law which divided the administration among the citizens at large, and passed a law that the archons should be elected out of the whole body of the people, who had so highly merited the favour of the state.

Upon the continuation of the war with the Persians, Aristides, was sent, along with Cimon the son of Miltiades, to take the command of the Athenian forces in the confederate army. Their mildness and humility, compared with the haughty domineering temper of Pausanias, and other Spartan commanders, so won upon the rest of the allies, that a confederation was formed under the supremacy of Athens, with the joint concurrence of the Ionian states. The nomination of Aristides to lay an equal assessment upon all the states for the purpose of defraying the expense of the war, was a signal proof of the high opinion entertained throughout all Greece of his integrity and justice. The wisdom and impartiality with which he performed this commission gave universal satisfaction. On Themistocles's falling under the displeasure of the ruling party, Aristides would not concur in a capital prosecution of him; and instead of triumphing over an old enemy, he always spoke of him after his banishment with the highest respect.

This great man died about 468 years B.C., according to some at Athens, at an advanced age; others say at Pontus, where he was transacting public business. He was buried at the public expense, his daughters received portions out of the public treasury, and an estate in land was bestowed on his son Lysimachus, in gratitude for the signal services which Aristides had rendered to his country.

Aristides, P. Elius, surnamed Theodorus, a distinguished Greek rhetorician, born at Adriani in Mysia about A.D. 117. After studying at Athens under Herodes Atticus, he travelled through Egypt, Greece, and Italy. Though his health was extremely delicate, he pursued his rhetorical studies with unremitting assiduity, and acquired so great a reputation that statues were erected in his honour by several of the states he visited. His overweening estimation of his own abilities, however, induced some persons to underrate his merits, and exposed him to frequent enmities. He settled at Smyrna; and when that city was ruined by an earthquake A.D. 178, the eloquence of his appeal induced M. Aurelius to assist the citizens in restoring it. In gratitude for this service they would have heaped honours on Aristides, but he declined to receive anything but the office of priest of Asclepius, which he held till his death, about A.D. 189. His Sermones Sacri contain several curious passages respecting the cures of the sick in temples, which have excited considerable attention in modern times by their apparent resemblance to certain effects said to be produced by Mesmerism, or, more properly, Hypnotism or nervous sleep. Fifty-five of his orations and declamations are extant, and two treatises on rhetoric, of little value. A complete edition of his works was published by W. Dindorf, Lips. 1829, 3 vols. 8vo.

Aristides, Quintilianus, the author of a valuable treatise upon music, who probably lived in the first century of our era. The work is printed in the collection of Meibomius, entitled Antiquae Musice Auctores Septem, Amst. 1652.

painter contemporary with Apelles, flourished at Thebes about B.C. 360-330. He was the first, according to Pliny, who expressed character and passion, but was not remarkable for softness of colouring.