Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/96

 XCU THUCYDIDES done, though Thucydides does not mention the fact. The Bottiaeans with the Chalcidian cities had joined in the revolt of Potidaea, which was one of the original causes of the war, and Spartolus had been the scene of a grievous disaster to an Athenian army in 430 (Thuc. i. 58, ii, 79^ These facts strikingly illustrate the words of the oath taken by the two parties according to the inscription, ov /A.o;o-iKa- K-qcroi tC)v Trapoi)(OfJ.€V(DV cve/ca.] 54 is a decree about an expedition of 30 ships of war. For the question whether this is the Melian expedition (Thuc. V. 84), see supra, p. xxii. 55 also relates to an expedition, consisting of 60 ships ; it is indicated by the datives in ats to be not older than 01. 90. It has been thought to refer to the first decree for the Sicilian expedition ; but see supra, pp. xxi, xxii. 56 contains a tribute of honour decreed to the Samians because they had emancipated (?) themselves, 5tl o-4>a^ avTovs [rjXevOepioa-av], evidently referring to the events of 412 recorded in Thucydides, viii. 21. Mention is made in the decree of deaths, exiles, and confiscations inflicted by the Samian people, and of certain offenders whom they are to send to Athens. 57 contains a decree limiting the power of the senate, probably after the overthrow of the 400. Mention occurs of 500 men, and, shortly afterwards, of 500 drachmae. 59 contains a decree in honour of Thrasybulus, Agoratus, and others, and mentioning Apoll[odorus]. It was passed in the archonship of Glaucippus (410-409), soon after the assassination of Phrynichus (Thuc. viii. 92 init.) : and that the inscription has to do with the claim of Thrasybulus of Calydon and Apollodorus of Mcgara to be the slayers of Phrynichus appears from Lysias c. Agoratum (xiii) 76-78 (71-73), though it may not be the inscription to which he refers. Thucydides names neither the actual assassin nor his accomplice whom he calls an Argive. The inscription does not square with the narrative of Lysias, and cannot be said to weigh against the evidence of