The image of Cimon as a historical figure is in large part determined by Plutarch’s biographical narrative, which depicts him as an emblematic representative of the traditional aristocracy and as a champion of concord among his fellow citizens as well as the Greeks in general. This portrait lacks plausibility in so far as it does not match the political setting of the fifth century BC, i.e. the logic of Athenian ‘imperialism’ and the workings of the democratic system. Considering the scarcity of information on Cimon’s career and the inherent contradictions of the historical tradition, it is unlikely, however, that Plutarch set out to distort greatly the limited data available to him; rather it appears that he sought to adapt and elaborate the material in such a way as to present a consistent interpretation relevant to his contemporary world.Keywords: Cimon, Plutarch, aristocratic politicians, euergetism, pan-Hellenism.