History of Greece

Efforts of the Syracusans to procure farther reinforcements from

the Sicilian towns......

......

Conflicts between the Athenians and Syracusans in the Great Har-

Defeat of a Sicilian reinforcement marching to aid Syracuse

Renewed attack by Gylippus on the Athenians.......

Disadvantages of the Athenian fleet in the harbour. Their naval

.... 406

tactics impossible in the narrow space

.... 407

Improvements in Syracusan ships suited to the narrow space...... 408

The Syracusans threaten attack upon the Athenian naval station... 409

Additional preparations of Nikias-battle renewed

Complete defeat of the Athenians

Danger of the Athenian armament-arrival of Demosthenês with

.......

Voyage of Demosthenês from Korkyra .................

Imposing effect of his entry into the Great Harbour.........

Revived courage of the Athenians. Judicious and decisive resolu-

Position and plans of Demosthenês

Nocturnal march of Demosthenês to surprise Epipolæ, and turn

the Syracusan line of defence.......

418

Partial success at first-complete and ruinous defeat finally ...... 420

Disorder of the Athenians-great loss in the fight
421

Elate spirits, and renewed aggressive plans, of the Syracusans 423

Deliberation and different opinions of the Athenian generals. ib.

Demosthenês insists on departing from Sicily-Nikias opposes him 424

Demosthenês insists at least on removing out of the Great Harbour 426

Nikias refuses to consent to such removal

.... 427

The armament remains in the Great Harbour, neither acting nor
retiring....

Infatuation of Nikias ........

........

....

Increase of force and confidence in Syracuse-Nikias at length

consents to retreat. Orders for retreat privately circulated...... 431

Eclipse of the moon-Athenian retreat postponed

432

Eclipses considered as signs-differently interpreted-opinion of

Philochorus

Renewed attacks of the Syracusans-defeat of the Athenian fleet

Page

ib.

Partial success ashore against Gylippus.

The Syracusans determine to block up the mouth of the harbour,

and destroy or capture the whole Athenian armament ............

.... 437

Large views of the Syracusans against the power of Athens-new
hazards now opened to endanger that power................

Vast numbers, and miscellaneous origin of the combatants now

engaged in fighting for or against Syracuse

438

The Syracusans block up the mouth of the harbour....................................................... 439

The Athenians resolve to force their way out-preparations made

.......

by the generals.......

ib.

441

443

Exhortations of Nikias on putting the crews aboard..........................

Agony of Nikias-his efforts to encourage the officers................

Bold and animated language of Gylippus to the Syracusan fleet... 444

Syracusan arrangements. Condition of the Great Harbour-sym-
pathizing population surrounding it

Attempt of the Athenian fleet to break out-battle in the Great

Harbour.........

Long-continued and desperate struggle-intense emotion-total

defeat of the Athenians

Military operations of ancient times-strong emotions which ac-

companied them

Causes of the defeat of the Athenians

Feelings of the victors and vanquished after the battle...........

Resolution of Demosthenês and Nikias to make a second attempt

-the armament are too much discouraged to obey

..... 454

The Athenians determine to retreat by land-they postpone their

retreat, under false communications from Syracuse
ib.

The Syracusans block up the roads, to intercept their retreat. 455

Retreat of the Athenians-miserable condition of the army 457

Wretchedness arising from abandoning the sick and wounded...... 458

Attempt of the generals to maintain some order-energy of Nikias ib.

Exhortations of Nikias to the suffering army......

459

Commencement of the retreat-harassed and impeded by the Sy-

racusans.........

.....

...

Page

435

...

ib.

445

******............

...............................

Continued conflict-no progress made by the retreating army

Violent storm-effect produced on both parties—change of feeling

in the last two years..............

465

Night march of the Athenians, in an altered direction, towards the

southern sea.............................

....... 466

Separation of the two divisions under Nikias and Demosthenês.

The first division under Nikias gets across the river Erineus 467

The rear division under Demosthenês is pursued, overtaken, and

forced to surrender

Gylippus overtakes and attacks the division of Nikias

..........................

Nikias gets to the river Asinarus-intolerable thirst and suffering
of the soldiers-he and his division become prisoners

Total numbers captured .......

Hard treatment and sufferings of the Athenian prisoners at Syra-

.... 475

.......

cuse

Treatment of Nikias and Demosthenês-difference of opinion

among the conquerors....

.... 477

Influence of the Corinthians-efforts of Gylippus-both the gene-

rals are slain .......

.... 478

Disgrace of Nikias after his death, at Athens-continued respect
for the memory of Demosthenês...................

Opinion of Thucydidês about Nikias.

How far that opinion is just

Opinion of the Athenians about Nikias-their steady over-con-

fidence and over-esteem for him, arising from his respectable

and religious character......

.... 483

Over-confidence in Nikias was the greatest personal mistake which

the Athenian public ever committed

.... 484

.........

.... 471

474

CHAPTER LXI.

From the Destruction of the Athenian Armament in Sicily down

to the Oligarchical Conspiracy of the Four Hundred at Athens.

Consequences of the ruin of the Athenian armament in Sicily...... 486

Occupation of Dekeleia by the Lacedæmonians-its ruinous effects

upon Athens

Athens becomes a military post-heavy duty in arms imposed upon

the citizens................

ib.

Page

Financial pressure..............

Athens dismisses her Thracian mercenaries-massacre at Myka-

lêssus....

..... 490

The Thracians driven back with slaughter by the Thebans ..... 491

Athenian station at Naupaktus-decline of the naval superiority of

Athens

479

480

481

......

Naval battle near Naupaktus-indecisive result

Last news of the Athenians from Syracuse-ruin of the army there

not officially made known to them..

495

496

ib.

Reluctance of the Athenians to believe the full truth

Terror and affliction at Athens

Energetic resolutions adopted by the Athenians-Board of Probûli 497

Prodigious effect of the catastrophe upon all Greeks-enemies and

allies of Athens as well as neutrals-and even on the Persians... 500

492

493

The Euboeans apply to Agis for aid in revolting from Athens-the

Lesbians also apply, and are preferred .......

..............

The Chians, with the same view, make application to Sparta

Envoys from Tissaphernês and Pharnabazus come to Sparta at the

same time........

...... 503

******.....

Alkibiadês at Sparta-his recommendations determine the Lace-

dæmonians to send aid to Chios

..... 505

Synod of the Peloponnesian allies at Corinth-measures resolved. 506

Isthmian festival-scruples of the Corinthians-delay about Chios

-suspicions of Athens........

Peloponnesian fleet from Corinth to Chios-it is defeated by the

Athenians

507

..... 508

Small squadron starts from Sparta under Chalkideus and Alki-

biadês, to go to Chios

509

Energetic advice of Alkibiadês-his great usefulness to Sparta 510

Arrival of Alkibiadês at Chios-revolt of the island from Athens... 511

General population of Chios was disinclined to revolt from Athens 512

Dismay occasioned at Athens by the revolt of Chios-the Athenians

set free and appropriate their reserved fund

.........

Athenian force despatched to Chios under Strombichidês

Activity of the Chians in promoting revolt among the other Athe-

nian allies-Alkibiadês determines Milêtus to revolt............... 516

First alliance between the Peloponnesians and Tissaphernês, con-

cluded by Chalkideus at Milêtus.......................

............

...

Dishonourable and disadvantageous conditions of the treaty

Energetic efforts of Athens-democratical revolution at Samos

Peloponnesian fleet at Kenchreæ-Astyochus is sent as Spartan

admiral to Ionia

...

...............

Page

524

526

Expedition of the Chians against Lesbos

Ill-success of the Chians-Lesbos is maintained by the Athenians 527

Harassing operations of the Athenians against Chios

Hardships suffered by the Chians-prosperity of the island up to

..... 529

.......

.... 530

this time

Fresh forces from Athens-victory of the Athenians near Milêtus 531

Fresh Peloponnesian forces arrive-the Athenians retire, pursuant

....................

.....

to the strong recommendation of Phrynichus
Capture of Iasus by the Peloponnesians-rich plunder-Amorgês
made prisoner
Tissaphernês begins to furnish pay to the Peloponnesian fleet. He
reduces the rate of pay for the future........................
Powerful Athenian fleet at Samos-unexpected renovation of the
navy of Athens..

Astyochus at Chios and on the opposite coast