Today's Passage
This passage occurs in 431 BCE at the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
The Plataeans had got thus far when they were cut short by Archidamus saying: “There is justice, Plataeans, in what you say, if you act up to your words. According, to the grant of Pausanias, continue to be independent yourselves, and join in freeing those of your fellow countrymen who, after sharing in the perils of that period, joined in the oaths to you, and are now subject to the Athenians; for it is to free them and the rest that all this provision and war has been made. I could wish that you would share our labours and abide by the oaths yourselves; if this is impossible, do what we have already required of you—remain neutral, enjoying your own; join neither side, but receive both as friends, neither as allies for the war. With this we shall be satisfied.” Such were the words of Archidamus. The Plataeans, after hearing what he had to say, went into the city and acquainted the people with what had passed, and presently returned for answer that it was impossible for them to do what he proposed without consulting the Athenians, with whom their children and wives now were; besides which they had their fears for the town. After his departure, what was to prevent the Athenians from coming and taking it out of their hands, or the Thebans, who would be included in the oaths, from taking advantage of the proposed neutrality to make a second attempt to seize the city? Upon these points he tried to reassure them by saying: “You have only to deliver over the city and houses to us Lacedaemonians, to point out the boundaries of your land, the number of your fruit-trees, and whatever else can be numerically stated, and yourselves to withdraw wherever you like as long as the war shall last. When it is over we will restore to you whatever we received, and in the interim hold it in trust and keep it in cultivation, paying you a sufficient allowance.”
When they had heard what he had to say, they re-entered the city, and after consulting with the people said that they wished first to acquaint the Athenians with this proposal, and in the event of their approving to accede to it; in the meantime they asked him to grant them a truce and not to lay waste their territory. He accordingly granted a truce for the number of days requisite for the journey, and meanwhile abstained from ravaging their territory. The Plataean envoys went to Athens, and consulted with the Athenians, and returned with the following message to those in the city: “The Athenians say, Plataeans, that they never hitherto, since we became their allies, on any occasion abandoned us to an enemy, nor will they now neglect us, but will help us according to their ability; and they adjure you by the oaths which your fathers swore, to keep the alliance unaltered.”
Modern Translation
The Plataeans had reached this point in their speech when Archidamus interrupted them: "Plataeans, your words are just—if your actions match them. In accordance with the grant from Pausanias, maintain your own independence and help us liberate your fellow Greeks who shared in those ancient dangers, swore the same oaths, and are now under Athenian control. This entire military preparation and war exists to free them and others. Ideally, you would join our effort and honor those oaths. If that's impossible, then do what we've already asked: remain neutral, keeping your territory to yourselves. Welcome both sides as friends, but neither as military allies. This would satisfy us." After Archidamus finished speaking, the Plataean representatives returned to their city and reported the conversation to their people. They then came back with this response: they couldn't accept his proposal without consulting the Athenians, since their wives and children were currently in Athens. Moreover, they feared for their city's safety—once Archidamus left, what would stop the Athenians from seizing it, or the Thebans (who would be included in any agreement) from exploiting the neutrality to attempt another takeover? Archidamus tried to address these concerns: "Simply hand over your city and houses to us Spartans. Show us your land boundaries, count your fruit trees, and document anything else that can be numbered. Then withdraw wherever you wish for the war's duration. When peace comes, we'll return everything we received, meanwhile maintaining it as trustees, cultivating the land and paying you adequate compensation."
After hearing this proposal, they returned to the city again. Following consultation with their people, they said they wanted to present this offer to the Athenians first; if Athens approved, they would accept. Meanwhile, they requested a truce and asked him not to devastate their territory. Archidamus granted a truce for the days needed for the journey and refrained from ravaging their land. The Plataean envoys traveled to Athens, consulted with the Athenians, and returned with this message for their fellow citizens: "The Athenians declare, Plataeans, that never since you became our allies have we abandoned you to any enemy, nor will we forsake you now. We will aid you to the best of our ability. By the oaths your fathers swore, they urge you to maintain the alliance unchanged."
Historical Context
This passage occurs in 431 BCE at the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. Archidamus, the Spartan king, has led a Peloponnesian army to Plataea, Athens' oldest ally. Rather than immediately attacking, he attempts diplomatic negotiations. The Plataeans find themselves caught between two great powers: their historical alliance with Athens (dating from the Persian Wars) and the immediate threat of a Spartan siege. Archidamus offers them neutrality or alliance, while trying to exploit their historical connection through Pausanias's grant of autonomy after the Battle of Plataea (479 BCE). The passage reveals the complex interplay of historical obligations, practical considerations, and power politics that characterized Greek interstate relations. The Plataeans' delicate position—with their families in Athens as virtual hostages—illustrates how smaller states navigated great power competition.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Grant of Pausanias
After the Greek victory at Plataea in 479 BCE, the Spartan general Pausanias granted autonomy to all Greek cities that had fought against Persia. Archidamus invokes this 48-year-old promise to justify Spartan intervention, showing how historical precedents were manipulated in Greek diplomacy.
Learn more →Greek Neutrality
Neutrality in Greek warfare was rare and difficult to maintain. Small states often faced pressure from both sides in conflicts. The Spartan offer to hold Plataea 'in trust' represents an attempt to create a controlled neutrality that would effectively remove an Athenian ally from the war.
Learn more →Hostages and Loyalty
The Plataean women and children in Athens served as informal hostages ensuring loyalty. This practice was common in Greek alliances, where the protecting power would shelter non-combatants, simultaneously offering protection and ensuring compliance from the allied state.
Learn more →Theban-Plataean Enmity
The reference to Theban threats recalls the Theban attack on Plataea earlier in 431 BCE that sparked the war. This long-standing local rivalry between neighboring cities was subsumed into the larger Athenian-Spartan conflict, demonstrating how regional disputes fueled the wider war.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 9.51-52)
Describes Pausanias's original grant of freedom to the Greeks after Plataea, which Archidamus invokes as justification for Spartan demands.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Pericles (Chapter 24-25)
Provides context for Athenian strategy at the war's outbreak, explaining why Athens could promise support despite allowing Spartan forces to approach Plataea unchallenged.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 5.2.25-31)
Describes similar negotiations between Sparta and smaller states, showing the continuity of Spartan diplomatic tactics involving autonomy claims and neutrality offers.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Archidamus use historical precedent (Pausanias's grant) to justify present actions? What does this suggest about the role of collective memory in Greek diplomacy?
- Analyze the Plataean dilemma: caught between immediate military threat and long-term alliance obligations. What options did small states really have in great power conflicts?
- Why might Thucydides include such detailed diplomatic exchanges? What do they reveal about the nature of power and justice in interstate relations?
- Compare the Athenian and Spartan offers to Plataea. How do they reflect different approaches to empire and alliance?