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

Chapter XIV

 * The famous battle of Arginusæ at sea, wherein the Athenians were victors. The officers accused for not burying the dead. The speech of Diomedon. The death of Sophocles.

THE Athenians, weakened with continual losses, made all strangers and foreigners free of their city that would engage with them in the war. When a great multitude were incorporated into the city, the commanders listed all that were fit for war, equipped a fleet of sixty sail, with which (every way well provided) they sailed to Samos, where they found other commanders, who had brought together fourscore more gallies from other islands; and having procured ten more from the Samians, they weighed anchor, and made with their whole fleet (consisting of a hundred and fifty sail) to the islands Arginusæ, with a design to raise the siege at Mitylene. But Callicratides, the Lacedæmonian general, having intelligence of the approach of the enemy, left Etonicus with a great force to maintain the siege, and sailed himself with all speed, with a fleet of one hundred and forty sail, well manned, to Arginusæ. These islands were then inhabited, and had a little town in them peopled by the Eolians. They lie between Mitylene and Cuma, near to the continent, and the promontory Catanides. The Athenians, in regard their navy lay not far from thence, heard time enough of the advance of the enemy's fleet; yet, because the wind was very high, they waved fighting that day, and prepared to engage the next. The like did the Lacedæmonians; for the augurs on both sides dissuaded each from fighting. For the head of the Lacedæmonian sacrifice being laid upon the shore, was suddenly washed away by the violence of the waves; upon which the priest foretold the death of the admiral: to which it is reported Callicratides made answer__That the glory of Sparta would not be obscured by his death. Thrasybulus likewise, the Athenian admiral, who had the chief command that day, had this dream; the night before, he dreamt that he and six other commanders, in a full theatre at Athens, acted the tragedy of Euripides called Phenissa, and that the enemies acted that called the Suppliants; and that at length he obtained a Cadmean victory, and all of them were killed, like those at the siege of Thebes; which, when the soothsayer heard, he thus interpreted__That seven of the chief commanders should fall in the fight: but in regard that the entrails portended victory, they commanded that nothing should be said of their deaths, but only to their friends; but that they should publish abroad to the whole army, that victory was certainly promised by the view of the sacrifices.

Then Callicratides calling the soldiers together, made a speech to them suited to the occasion; and further added__I am so cheerful and ready to undergo all hazards for the sake of my country, that although the augur has foretold my death by the portents of the sacrifice, yet inasmuch as he has also pronounced assured victory to you, I am impatient of delay, and ready and willing presently to die: and that the army may not be disturbed, and in confusion by the death of their admiral, I now appoint another, who may succeed me in case I fall; and that is Clearchus, a man known to be an experienced good soldier. Callicratides stirred up many with these words, to imitate his valour, and to hasten the battle. The Lacedæmonians now encouraging one another, embarked; so likewise the Athenians, heartened by their officers, went aboard, and everyone placed themselves according to their squadrons. Thrasybulus and Pericles commanded the right wing, (this was Pericles the son of that Pericles the famous orator, whose surname was Olympus); but the command of part of this wing he delivered to Theramenes, who was at first but a common soldier, but afterwards at several times commanded considerable forces: the rest of the officers he placed in their order throughout the whole fleet; and compassing the islands called Arginusæ, he drew out his fleet in a line, as long as he possibly could. On the other side, Callicratides advancing into the open sea, commanded the right wing: the Bœotians were in the left, commanded by Thrasonidas the Theban. But when they saw that they could not reach to equal the line of the enemy, because the islands stretched out so far, he divided his navy into two parts, and fought in two places. This amazed the beholders from all parts, as if four fleets, with no less than three hundred sail, close together, were hotly engaged. For this was the greatest sea-fight that ever was fought, by Grecians against Grecians, that any history commemorates. And now at one instant all the trumpets were commanded by the admirals to sound a charge, and the armies on both sides set up great shouts in their turns, one against another, and plying their oars with great heat and earnestness, every one strove who should be the first in making the onset. For there were many that by reason of the long continuance of the war, were well instructed for fights at sea; and the battle was very hot and obstinate on both sides, in regard the best and stoutest men were got together to fight, in order to get or lose all at once: for none doubted but this battle would put an end to the war, which side soever got the victory. But Callicratides knowing by the predictions of the augurs, that he was to die, endeavoured to make his death honourable and glorious. Therefore he made up fiercely upon the gallies of Nausias, the vice admiral, whom he sunk with those next to him, at the first charge; others he disabled, striking them through with the beaks of his ships, and others he made useless for fight, by brushing off their oars. At length he struck the ship of Pericles with such violence that he tore off one great part from another. But the fore-part of his own ship was so fixed by the fierceness of the stroke in the prow of his enemy's ship, that he could not clear himself off; upon which Pericles cast grappling-irons into Callicratides's vessel, and so forced him up close side to side; and thereupon the Athenians in a great body boarded him, and put all in the ship to the sword. Here it is reported that Callicratides, after he had behaved himself with great gallantry a long time, and received many wounds in all parts of his body, at length wearied out, fell down dead: the report of his death running through the fleet, the Peloponnesians, struck with a panic fear, began presently to fly: but though the right wing fled, yet the Bœotians in the left stuck to it, and fought stoutly for some time; for they of Eubœa, being in the same common danger, were very faithful to them, and all those that had revolted from the Athenians, were afraid lest they (if they recovered their former power) would revenge themselves upon those that had deserted them. But when the Bœotians saw that the greatest part of the fleet was routed and broken to pieces, and that they were more and more pressed upon by multitudes that made up upon then, they fled outright. Some of the Peloponnesians fled to Cbios, others to Cuma. But the Athenians pursued them very far, and filled all the sea-coasts with carcases of the dead and wrecks of ships. After this some of the commanders advised that the bodies of those that were slain should be taken up, because the Athenians used severely to punish those who neglected that last office. Others were rather for sailing back forthwith to Mitylene, and in the first place to raise the siege: but presently arose a most violent tempest, by which the ships were greatly shattered and broken; so that by this, and the toil of the late engagement, the spirits of the soldiers were very low, and the taking up the bodies of the dead was deferred. At length the storm raged and increased to that degree, that they could neither gain Mitylene, nor perform what they ought for the dead; so that being driven back by the storm, they arrived with the fleet at Arginusæ. In this fight the Athenians lost five-and-twenty of their ships, and most of their men in them; but the Peloponnesians seventy-seven. There were so many ships and men destroyed, that all the sea-coasts of Cuma and Phocæa seemed to be filled with carcases and wrecks.

Eleonicus, who was besieging Mitylene, having certain intelligence of the defeat of the Peloponnesians, sent away all the shipping to Chios; he himself marched away with the land-army to a confederate city of the Tyrrhenians, being afraid lest by a sally out of the town, when the Athenian fleet came up, his whole army should be cut off. When the Athenians arrived at Mitylene, they took thence Conon along with them, with forty sail, and passed over to Samos, and there wasted and spoiled all their enemy's country.

After these things, the Lacedæmonians in Eolis and Ionia, and the dispersed islands, met in a common council at Ephesus; and after many bandings and discourses, pro and con, they at length resolved to send an ambassador to Sparta, to desire that Lysander might be constituted admiral of the navy: for that he approved himself with great commendation when he was in command, and was judged to be the most skilful general.

But because the Lacedæmonians would not alter the antient custom of their country, they made Aratus admiral, and sent Lysander with him, as a private man, to be his assistant; with this strict command, that the general should always follow his advice and counsel. Thus being sent forth to manage the command of the fleet, they got together from Peloponnesus and their confederates, as many gallies as they possibly could.

The Athenians, when they received the happy tidings of their success at Arginusæ, highly applauded the commanders for the victory; but were very angry that they neglected to bury those who had lost their lives in the defence of the government.

Theramenes and Thrasybulus, coming before the rest to Athens, the other officers suspecting they would accuse them to the people for their neglect in not burying the dead, sent letters against them, whereby they signified, that the care of interring them that were slain was committed to them, which was the chief cause of all the mischief that afterwards fell upon the other officers. For, whereas they might before have easily made Theramenes, and the rest of his party, their patrons and advocates in the accusations laid against them, being men that were excellent speakers, and of great interest, and that which was most considerable, were best acquainted with every thing that was done in the battle: now on the contrary, they had so far disobliged them, that they became their most bitter enemies and prosecutors. For, when the letters were read to the people, they were presently all on fire against Theramenes: but he having cleared himself, their rage was all turned again upon the other officers. The people therefore assigned them a day to be heard, and ordered the forces to be delivered over to Conon, whom they exempted from this bill; all the rest they commanded by an absolute decree forthwith to return: among whom Aristegenes, and Protomachus, fearing the rage of the people, fled: but Thrasyllus, Calliades, Lysias, Pericles, and Aristocrates, returned to Athens, with a great number of ships, upon this confidence, that by the mediation of those they had brought along with them, who were very many, they should be acquitted. But after the assembly came together, the people yielded a quick ear to the accusations, and whatever the demagogues said, it was well taken; but when the accused began to speak, a tumult arose, and they could not be heard in their own defence. And besides, the relations of them that were killed, did not a little further their ruin; who came weeping and wailing into the senate, earnestly desiring that the commanders might suffer for their neglect, in not burying them, who had valiantly lost their lives for their country. At length, the friends of the dead, and those that prosecuted with Theramenes, (of whom many were then present), prevailed. And thereupon the commanders were condemned to die, and their estates to be confiscated. Sentence being thus given, just as they were being led to execution by the lictors, Diomedon, one of them, an excellent soldier, and reputed a just man, and eminent in all other virtuous qualifications, stood up, and silence being made through the whole assembly, thus began__Ye men of Athens, we heartily wish that the sentence now pronounced against us, may issue in the prosperity and happiness of this city: but since fortune has prevented us from paying our vows, and giving thanks to the gods for the victory, it is most just and fit you should perform it; see therefore that you do it to Jove, to Apollo, and the glorious goddesses; for by prayers to them we have overcome the enemy. When he had said this, he was hurried away with the rest to execution; many of the best of the citizens bemoaning his fate with tears. For he who now went to suffer, never in the least complained of the hardness of his case, but only advised his countrymen (who then acted so wickedly) to make their addresses to the gods; which was a clear indication of a man of a pious and generous spirit, little deserving such base and unworthy usage. In short the eleven commanders were all put to death by the officers appointed by law, though they had never done the city the least injury, but on the contrary benefited their country by a victory gained in a sea-fight, the greatest that was ever fought by Grecians against Grecians; and besides were men whose valour had been remarkable in several battles, and who had had statues before erected in memory of their victories. The people were then so desperately mad and enraged by the orators, beyond all bounds of justice, that they gratified their anger and revenge upon men that were not only innocent, but deserved rather honour and rewards.

But not long after, both the accusers that stirred up the people, and the people themselves who gave credit to their criminations, sorely repented of what was done, as if God himself had taken revenge of them for the fact: for they that were so willing to be deluded by these malicious instigations, not long after received the reward of their folly; when not one, but thirty domineering masters were by force set over them. Then was Callixenus, (he that gave sentence of death against the accused), upon this change of the people, charged as one that had deceived them, and without being admitted to any defence, was committed, and carried to the common-goal; but by the help of some friends, breaking through the walls, he fled to the enemy at Decelea; so that by the avoiding of death at this time, be was pointed at, as it were, by the finger, for his notorious wickedness, not only at Athens, but amongst all the other Grecians abroad, all the days of his life after.

These are almost all the things that are reported to be done this year. Amongst the writers, Philistus concludes the first part of the affairs of Sicily with this year, and with the taking of Agrigentum; comprehending, in seven volumes, the history of above eight hundred years. He begins the other part where the former ended, and proceeds in his relations contained in four books. About this time died Sophocles the tragedian, the son of Theophilus, ninety years of age. He gained eighteen victories upon the stage. It is reported of him, that when he acted his last tragedy, and came off conqueror, he fell into so violent a laughter, that he fell down dead. Apollodorus, a writer of chronicles, reports that Euripides likewise died this year. But others relate, that being entertained with Archelaus, king of Macedonia, once walking abroad into the fields, some dogs met him, by whom he was torn in pieces, and so miserably perished, a little before this year.