Cleon was the son of a rich tanner. His humble origins often became the object of discussion and ridicule in the Athenian society of the second half of the 5^thcentury B.C., as can be seen from Thucydides and Aristophanes’ comedies. Although he belonged to the same democratic party as Pericles, he disagreed with his policies. In 425 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War he rejected Spartan peace proposals, and joined the general Demosthenes to defeat them at the battle of Sphacteria. The same year he increased both the allied tax paid by the cities under Athenian hegemony, and the judicial pay for Athenian citizens. He was killed in 422 B.C. near Amphipolis during the Athenian Thracian expedition. To a great extent, his popularity is attributed to his strong presence in the Assembly of Citizens, especially when he made unrealistic promises and brought accusations against his political opponents.