Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/42

 XXXVlll THUCYDIDES (i) i, 96. 'Thus the Athenians by the good-will of the allies, who detested Pausanias, obtained the leadership. They immediately fixed which of the cities should supply money and which of them ships for the war against the Barbarians, the avowed object being to compensate them- selves and the allies for their losses by devastating the King's country. Then was first instituted at Athens the office of Hellenic treasurers (Hellenotamiae), who received the tribute, for so the contributions were termed. The amount was originally fixed at 460 talents. The island of Delos was the treasury, and the meetings of the allies were held in the temple.' This was the <^opos imposed in the time of Aristides to which allusion is made in the treaty of 421 between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians (v. 18, see infra). The time at which the transfer of the treasury from Delos to Athens was effected is not mentioned in Thucy- dides or in any trustworthy writer : the sole authority on which the date rests is that of Justin (iii. 6. 4), who places the event after the return of the Athenians from Ithome, about 461. The year assumed by Kohler, 454, is a con- jecture not improbable in itself, but based solely on the fact that the series of the quota lists begins in that year (p. 99 ff"., 107, 108). (2) v. 18 med. ' The inhabitants of any cities which the Lacedaemonians deliver over to the Athenians may depart whithersoever they please and take their property with them. The said cities shall be independent, but shall pay the tribute which was fixed in the time of Aristides.' (3) i. 99 init. ' The causes which led to the defection of the allies were of different kinds, the principal being their neglect to pay the tribute or to furnish ships, and, in some cases, failure of military service. For the Athenians were exacting and oppressive, using coercive measures towards men who were neither willing nor accustomed to work hard. And for various reasons they soon began to prove less agreeable leaders than at first. They no longer