Cimon was the son of Miltiades, the well-known hero of Marathon, and of Hegesipyle, daughter of the Thracian king Olorus, and was also related to the historian Thucydides. His family had played an important role in civil cases of Athens and Cimon himself, for many scholars represents the exemplary Athenian citizen of the first half of the 5thcentury B.C.

He was elected general each year from 479/8 B.C. until his ostracism in 462/1 B.C., and was in charge of Athenian military operations within the Delian League, which gave him the oportunity to prove his military skill. His greatest victory was that against the Persian fleet at the River Eurymedon on the southern coast of Asia Minor (466/5 B.C.). During the two decades after the end of the Persian Wars, he supported the co-operation of Athens and Sparta in dealing with the Persians. However, his policies, especially when he ensured Athenian help for Sparta during the repression of an outbreak of helots, and his failure to abolish the Ephialtic reforms (462/1 B.C.) caused him to lose influence and prestige in Athens, and resulted in his ostracism the same year. After his ten-year exile, he led the Athenian expedition to Cyprus (451/0 B.C.), where he died. He was known for his generosity, willingly undertaking the cost of liturgies. He funded many public works in Athens, most notably in the Agora.

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