Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Copyright © Heritage History 2010 Some rights reserved This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may therefore be reproduced within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, PREFACE however, are the property of Heritage History and are subject to certain restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the integrity of the work, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to The ultimate, it might be said, the only authority for assure that compromised versions of the work are not widely the military and political facts given in this narrative, is disseminated. Thucydides. These facts have been admirably expounded In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this and arranged by Grote, to whom everyone interested in text, a copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date Greek history must be under obligations which cannot be are included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic adequately expressed. I have to acknowledge specially my and printed versions of this text to include these markings, and that indebtedness to the maps which accompany the sixth users adhere to the following restrictions. volume of his history. In writing this little book I have also 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as had before me Mr. Haverfield's plan of Syracuse (executed long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. in relief), and have found it very helpful. A.J.C. 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own work. 3rd February 1899. 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected]. Original Copyright 1899 by Alfred J. Church 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS STATESMAN AND CITIZEN .............................................. 4 SOLDIER .......................................................................... 6 PEACE MAKER ................................................................ 9 THE GREAT SCHEME .................................................... 12 AN ILL-OMENED START ............................................... 15 AT SYRACUSE ............................................................... 17 ENERGY OF THE ATHENIANS ........................................ 22 SPARTA TO THE RESCUE .............................................. 25 DECLINE OF THE ATHENIANS ....................................... 27 HELP FROM ATHENS .................................................... 31 THE NEW ARMAMENT .................................................. 33 THE LAST STRUGGLE ................................................... 36 THE END ....................................................................... 40 Original Copyright 1899 by Alfred J. Church 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 CHAPTER I works he could supply a master miner in Thrace with a thousand men at a charge of an obol apiece daily. At Athens it was a great thing for a statesman to be STATESMAN AND CITIZEN rich. Ways were open to him of using his wealth in such a manner as to make a very favourable impression on his fellow- 'Three men,' says Aristotle, as quoted by Plutarch in his citizens, and that without laying himself open to the charge of Life of Nicias, 'I rank first among patriots—Nicias, ostentation. Among ourselves no one knows anything about Thucydides, Theramenes; but I put Theramenes below the the large cheque which the wealthy noble or merchant pays other two.' That the philosopher should have mentioned over to the collector of income-tax. The Athenian millionaire Theramenes at all is incomprehensible. We know him only as paid his income-tax in a manner which could not but bring him an unscrupulous oligarch, who became on occasion an equally under public notice. In times of peace, he had to furnish the unscrupulous democrat. Thucydides, who must be means for putting a play upon the stage at the great dramatic distinguished from his namesake and contemporary the festivals, to provide performers at the public games, to historian, was a respectable and consistent, but not very able, entertain his tribe at the great yearly feasts, and to equip the leader of the aristocratic party in Athens, whose limitations in embassies which were sent, from time to time, to the sacred point of cleverness and eloquence were made more island of Delos, or to the oracle of Delphi. There would conspicuous by his having to stand forth as the opponent of seldom be a year in which one or other of these duties would Pericles. Nicias, as we shall see, had many qualities that made not be imposed upon him. In the course of time he would be him worthy of Aristotle's praise; he would have added to them called upon to discharge them all. But, of course, there would the distinction of a uniform success in war, if an evil fortune, be different ways of discharging them. Some men, whose taking occasion of his weakness, had not put into his hands a income brought them within the class that was liable to these most formidable enterprise, one which, we may well believe, duties, would be unable or unwilling to spend more than the no mortal man could have carried out, and to which he necessary sum. Some, on the other hand, would be anxious to certainly was not equal. do everything in as splendid a style as possible, and for such the reward of popular favour was immediate. It was an Nicias, son of Niceratus, came of one of the noblest expenditure which everyone enjoyed, and for which everyone and wealthiest families in Athens. We know nothing of his was grateful. A still more imposing form of patriotic descent, except that it was such as to rank him as an aristocrat generosity could be displayed in times of war, for then the of the very bluest blood; of his wealth various particulars are wealthier citizens were called upon to furnish a ship for the given. It was indeed so great as to make him one of the most public service, or, to put it more exactly, to supplement what famous millionaires of Greece. Athenaeus, who is the great the State supplied, this being the bare ship, the necessary gossip-monger of antiquity, singles him out for mention equipment, and wages at the lowest rate. together with the wealthiest Romans. A part at least of his income came from the silver mines of Laurium, which the Plutarch has given us an account of the magnificence State used to lease out to private citizens for long periods, and, with which Nicias performed one of these public services—the doubtless, on terms more profitable to them than to itself. He sacred embassy to the shrine of the Twin Deities of Delos, had so vast an army of slaves that after providing for his own Apollo and Artemis. Part of the ceremonial of the day was the Original Copyright 1899 by Alfred J. Church 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 procession to the Temple from the shore, a chorus, brought for temptations with lamentable frequency, from Themistocles the purpose from Athens, singing, as it marched, a hymn in onwards; against Nicias no one ever breathed any reproach of honour of the Twins. This might have been an imposing the kind. spectacle, but its effect was greatly marred by the confusion He was personally courageous in a very high degree. which prevailed. The crowd of spectators, always a disturbing Courage was not conspicuous among the virtues of the Greek element in such scenes, thronged round the landing-place at character. When Aristotle has to find an instance of which the singers disembarked. These had to don their robes recklessness he looks for it, not among his own countrymen and chaplets in the midst of the multitude, and to make their but among the barbarians of Northern Europe. Thucydides, way through the crush, singing all the while as best they could. who, whether or not he puts into the mouths of his characters Nicias, when it fell to his lot to conduct the embassy, changed what they actually did say, never, we may be sure, puts into all this for the better. He landed the chorus, on the previous them what they could not have said, attributes to Nicias the day, at the neighbouring island of Rheneia. During the night, a remarkable words, 'I have less fear than other men for my own bridge, which had been constructed at Athens, and was safety.' There is no quality which is more generally and profusely decorated with gilding and tapestry, was thrown ungrudgingly admired than this. across the strait which separated Rheneia from Delos. At the appointed time the chorus crossed by this, undisturbed and in As to his temperance and chastity, virtues much more orderly array. Nicias further commemorated the occasion by thought of by ourselves than they were by the Greeks, we have consecrating a brazen palm-tree to Apollo, and by buying, at only negative evidence. Not a word of scandal against him in the cost of 10,000 drachmae, a piece of land, the rent of which these respects has come down to us, and this may be fairly was to be expended in sacrifices and feasts, on the condition taken as conclusive in his favour. that prayers should be offered up for the founder. A minor His piety was conspicuous.