Today's Passage
This passage describes the siege of Plataea (429 BCE), a crucial early event in the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
On the delivery of this message by the envoys, the Plataeans resolved not to be unfaithful to the Athenians but to endure, if it must be, seeing their lands laid waste and any other trials that might come to them, and not to send out again, but to answer from the wall that it was impossible for them to do as the Lacedaemonians proposed. As soon as he had received this answer, King Archidamus proceeded first to make a solemn appeal to the gods and heroes of the country in words following: “Ye gods and heroes of the Plataean territory, be my witnesses that not as aggressors originally, nor until these had first departed from the common oath, did we invade this land, in which our fathers offered you their prayers before defeating the Medes, and which you made auspicious to the Hellenic arms; nor shall we be aggressors in the measures to which we may now resort, since we have made many fair proposals but have not been successful. Graciously accord that those who were the first to offend may be punished for it, and that vengeance may be attained by those who would righteously inflict it.”
After this appeal to the gods Archidamus put his army in motion. First he enclosed the town with a palisade formed of the fruit-trees which they cut down, to prevent further egress from Plataea; next they threw up a mound against the city, hoping that the largeness of the force employed would ensure the speedy reduction of the place. They accordingly cut down timber from Cithaeron, and built it up on either side, laying it like lattice-work to serve as a wall to keep the mound from spreading abroad, and carried to it wood and stones and earth and whatever other material might help to complete it. They continued to work at the mound for seventy days and nights without intermission, being divided into relief parties to allow of some being employed in carrying while others took sleep and refreshment; the Lacedaemonian officer attached to each contingent keeping the men to the work. But the Plataeans, observing the progress of the mound, constructed a wall of wood and fixed it upon that part of the city wall against which the mound was being erected, and built up bricks inside it which they took from the neighbouring houses. The timbers served to bind the building together, and to prevent its becoming weak as it advanced in height; it had also a covering of skins and hides, which protected the woodwork against the attacks of burning missiles and allowed the men to work in safety. Thus the wall was raised to a great height, and the mound opposite made no less rapid progress. The Plataeans also thought of another expedient; they pulled out part of the wall upon which the mound abutted, and carried the earth into the city.
Modern Translation
After the envoys delivered this message, the Plataeans decided to remain loyal to Athens. They would endure watching their lands devastated and face whatever other hardships might come, rather than betray their alliance. They resolved not to send out any more negotiators, but instead to reply from their walls that they could not accept the Spartan terms. Upon receiving this response, King Archidamus first made a formal invocation to the local deities: 'Gods and heroes who protect Plataea, bear witness that we did not begin this aggression. These people first violated our common oaths. Only then did we enter this land where our ancestors, after praying to you, defeated the Persians—this land you made favorable to Greek arms. Nor will we be the aggressors in our coming actions, for we have made many reasonable offers that have been rejected. Grant that those who first committed wrongdoing may face punishment, and that those who seek righteous retribution may achieve it.' Following this religious appeal, Archidamus mobilized his forces. First, they surrounded the town with a stockade made from felled fruit trees to prevent anyone from leaving Plataea. Then they began constructing a siege mound against the city walls, hoping their superior numbers would quickly force a surrender. They harvested timber from Mount Cithaeron and built it into a lattice framework on both sides to contain the mound and prevent it from spreading. They filled this structure with wood, stones, earth, and any other suitable materials. The construction continued without pause for seventy days and nights, with troops working in shifts—some hauling materials while others rested and ate. Spartan officers assigned to each allied contingent supervised the work. Meanwhile, the Plataeans watched the mound's progress and devised countermeasures. They erected a wooden framework on the section of wall facing the mound and filled it with bricks taken from nearby houses. The timber frame held the structure together and prevented it from collapsing as it grew taller. They also covered it with animal skins and hides to protect both the woodwork from fire arrows and the workers from enemy missiles. As the defensive wall rose higher, the siege mound grew at an equal pace. The Plataeans then tried another tactic: they broke through the lower part of their wall where the mound touched it and carried the earth back into the city.
Historical Context
This passage describes the siege of Plataea (429 BCE), a crucial early event in the Peloponnesian War. After Plataea refused to abandon its alliance with Athens, the Spartan king Archidamus led a Peloponnesian army to besiege the small but symbolically important city. Plataea held special significance as the site of the Greek victory over Persia in 479 BCE, making Archidamus's religious invocation particularly pointed. The siege represents a shift from traditional hoplite warfare to prolonged siege operations, demonstrating the war's evolving nature. The Plataeans' desperate but ingenious defensive measures against overwhelming odds would inspire later Greek military engineering, though the city would ultimately fall after a two-year siege.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Ancient Siege Warfare
The siege of Plataea showcases sophisticated siege techniques including circumvallation (surrounding fortifications) and the construction of siege mounds. These methods, while time-consuming, were often more effective than direct assault against well-fortified positions. The seventy-day construction period demonstrates the massive logistical undertaking such operations required.
Learn more →Religious Invocation in War
Archidamus's appeal to local deities reflects the deep integration of religion in Greek warfare. By invoking the gods who witnessed the Persian defeat at Plataea, he attempts to legitimize Spartan actions and shift moral responsibility. This practice of calling gods as witnesses was common in Greek military and diplomatic contexts.
Learn more →The Battle of Plataea (479 BCE)
Archidamus references the famous battle where Greek forces defeated the Persians, ending Xerxes' invasion. This victory held immense symbolic importance for Greek unity and freedom. By invoking this memory while besieging the same city, Archidamus creates a bitter irony that Thucydides surely intended his readers to notice.
Learn more →Greek Engineering Innovation
The Plataean counter-engineering demonstrates remarkable adaptability. Their wooden framework with brick filling, protective coverings, and undermining tactics show sophisticated understanding of structural engineering and siege warfare. Such innovations would influence later Hellenistic siege techniques.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 9.51-70)
Describes the Battle of Plataea (479 BCE) that Archidamus references, where Greeks defeated Persians on this same ground, making his invocation deeply ironic as Greeks now fight Greeks.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Pericles (Chapter 33)
Provides context for Athens' strategic decision to abandon the countryside and rely on naval supremacy, explaining why small allies like Plataea faced such desperate situations when Athens couldn't provide direct military aid.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 2.2.3)
Describes the siege of Athens itself at war's end, where similar siege techniques were employed. The parallel shows how siege warfare methods developed throughout the Peloponnesian War period.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Archidamus's religious invocation attempt to reframe the moral narrative of the siege? What does this tell us about the role of religious legitimacy in Greek warfare?
- Compare the siege techniques used here with modern warfare. What parallels exist between ancient siege mounds and contemporary military engineering?
- Why might Thucydides include such detailed technical descriptions of the siege works? What does this reveal about his intended audience and historical method?
- Consider the Plataeans' situation: caught between loyalty to Athens and Spartan power. How do small states navigate great power competition, both in ancient times and today?