The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian/Book XIII/Chapter IV

Chapter IV

 * The government by four hundred abrogated in Athens. The victory by the Athenians over the Lacedæmonians at sea, between Sestos and Abydos. The Persian garrison driven out of Antandros by the help of the Lacedæmonians. Twenty-two years of the Peloponnesian war ended. Here Thucydides ends his history.

AFTER this year was ended, Theopompus goverened Athens, and the Romans invested four military tribunes with consular dignity, Tiberius Posthumius, Caius Cornelius, Caius Valerius, and Cæso Fabius. At this time the Athenians abrogated the authority of the four hundred, and restored the democracy. Theramenes was the author of this change, (a sober and prudent man), who was the only person that advised the recalling of Alcibiades, (by whom tbey recovered their strength); and by many other good offices performed by Theramenes, to the advantage of the public, he gained great authority and favour with the people. But not long after, the following things happened.

At this time, in order to carry on the war, two generals were chosen by the Athenians, Thrasyllus and Thrasybulus, who rendezvoused a fleet at Samos, and there trained and exercised the soldiers every day to inure them to fighting at sea. Mindarus, the Lacedæmonian admiral, in the mean while lay for some time at Miletus, expecting the aids from Pharnabazus, and hearing that three hundred gallies were arrived from Phœnicia, was confident now he should be able, with so great supplies, utterly to ruin the Athenian state. But presently after, having intelligence that the fleet was returned to Phœnicia, through the persuasions of Alcibiades, (being now out of all hopes of any assistance from him), he furnished some ships he had with him, from Peloponnesus, and from other foreign confederates, and sent Dorieus with thirteen sail, (which some of the Grecians had lately sent him out of Italy), to Rhodes: for he had heard that some innovations were contriving there; with the rest of the fleet, (to the number of eighty-three), he made to the Hellespont, because he heard that the Athenian navy lay at Samos. When the Athenian commanders saw them pass by, they hastened after them with threescore sail. But the Lacedæmonians arriving at Chlos, the Athenian, determined to sail to Lesbos, to be supplied with more ships from their confederates, lest they should be overpowered by numbers.

While the Athenians were thus busied, Mindarus, with the Lacedæmonian fleet, in the night, with all speed makes for the Hellespont, and the next day arrived at Sigeum. The Athenians hearing that they had departed from Chios, having received from their confederates at the present only three gallies, made after the Lacedæmonians; but when they came to Sigeum, they found the Lacedæmonians had left that place, save only three gallies, which fell forthwith into their hands. Proceeding thence, they came to Eleuntis, where they prepared themselves for a sea-fight. On the other side the Lacedæmonians, when they saw their enemies were fitting themselves for a conflict, they likewise, for five days together, employed themselves in exercising and trying their rowers, and then ordered their fleet, which consisted of eighty-eight sail, into a line of battle, and stood towards the Asiatic shore. The Athenians on ths other hand, drew out theirs all along the tract lying upon the borders of Europe; they were indeed fewer in number, but far more skilful in sea-affairs. The Lacedæmonians placed the Syracusans in the right wing, commanded by Hermocrates; the Peloponnesians in the left, under the command of Mindarus. On the part of the Athenians, Thrasyllus commanded the right, and Thrasybulus the left wing. At the first the great contest was for the tide, each striving to gain that. For a long time therefore they sailed round one another; at length, being in a narrow sea, they fought for a commodious station. For the battle being between Sestos and Abydos, the tide in those straits was a great disadvantage to that side it forced upon. But the Athenian pilots far excelling the others, by that means did notable service in many respects for the obtaining of the victory.

For although the Peloponnesians exceeded the other in number of their ships, and valour of the assailants, yet the skill and diligence of the Athenian pilots over-balanced all this, and made it of no effect; for when the Peloponnesians with all their force strove to pierce them, the Athenian fleet was placed in such excellent order, that no part of their ships could be touched, save only the very end of their beaks. Upon which, Mindarus perceiving they assaulted them in vain, commanded that a few ships only, singly by themselves, should cope with the enemy: but neither in this case was the diligence of the pilots wanting; for, with a little motion they easily declined the strokes of the beaks of their enemies' ships, and so pierced them in their broadsides, that they disabled many. At length the dispute waxing very hot, they not only pierced one another's ships with their beaks, but the soldiers on the decks fought hand to hand; but neither side could as yet prevail. And now in the very heat of the battle, there appeared beyond a promontory five-and-twenty sail sent from Athens. Upon which the Peloponnesians being in a consternation at this sudden reinforcement, tacked about for Abydos, and were closely and eagerly pursued by the Athenians. And thus ended the battle, in which all the ships of the Syracusens, Palleneans, and Leucadians, eight of the Chians, five of the Corinthians, and eleven of the Ambracians were taken by the Athenians, who on the other side lost five, which were sunk. After this, the army under Thrasybulus erected a trophy on the promontory, where stands the monument of Hecuba; and messengers were sent to Athens, to give intelligence of the victory; and he himself sailed with the whole fleet to Cyzicum; for, a little before the battle, this city had revolted to Pharnabazus, governor under Darius, and to Clearchus the Lacedæmonian general. This place not being fortified, was presently surrendered; and after the tribute agreed upon was paid, the fleet returned to Sestos.

In the mean time, Mindarus Ihe Lacedæmonian admiral, who fled to Abydos, refits the shipping, and orders Epicles the Spartan to Eubœa, to bring to him gallies from thence; who hasten thither, and gets together fifty sail, and forthwith made to sea; but in passing under mount Athos, was overtaken with such a violent tempest, that all the fleet was lost, and not a man escaped, save only twelve. In memory of this, there is an inscription on a monument at Coronea, as Euphorus observes in these words—

Out of the fifty gallies of three oars; But poor twelve men on rocks were thrown, Of Athos mount and sav'd. With wind sea roars, Rest of the men or ships spares none.

About the same time Alcibiades, with thirteen gallies, sailed to them that lay at anchor at Samos. The Athenians had before been informed, that (through the persuasions of Alcibiades) Pharnabazus would not send the three hundred ships (as he intended) in aid of the Lacedæmonians. Being therefore courteously received by them that lay at Samos, he made some proposals for his return, and made many promises to serve his country to the utmost of his power, absolutely denying the crimes laid to his charge; and complained of his hard fortune, that he was compelled (through the crafty designs of his enemies) to make use of his arms against his country. His speech was highly applauded by the common soldiers, and by messengers reported at Athens; upon which he was absolved, and created one of their generals; for, considering his valour and great interest every where amongst the Grecians, they hoped it would be much for their advantage if they again received him into favour. And besides, Theramenes, one of the greatest authority in the commonwealth, a man eminent for wisdom and prudence as ever any before him, advised the recalling of Alcibiades. When the messengers returned to Samos with this account, Alcibiades joining nine ships more to those thirteen be brought with him, sailed to Halicarnassus, and there forced the city to pay him a large sum of money. And then making great devastations in Meropides, he returns with much plunder to Samos; and there divides the spoil as a common booty, not only amongst his own soldiers, but amongst them in Samos, and by that meant gains them all over to his interest.

About this time, Antandros, with the assistance of the Lacedæmonians, drove the garrison out of their city, and so restored their country to their liberty: for the Spartans being angry at Pharnabazus, for sending the three hundred ships into Phœnicia, entered into league with the Antandrians.

Here Thucydides breaks off his history, containing in eight books (which some divide into nine) the affairs of two-and-twenty years. Xenophon and Theopompus begin theirs where Thucydides ends. Xenophon continues his history for the term of forty-eight years; but Theopompus goes on with the affairs of Greece for the term of seventeen years, and ends his history at the sea-fight at Cnidus, comprised in twelve books. Thus stood the state of affairs in Greece and Asia at this time. In the mean time the Romans were war with the Æqui, and entered their country with a great army, and besieged their city called Bolasus, and took it.