Today's Passage
This passage describes two significant events from 428 BCE during the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Meanwhile fire signals were raised to alarm Athens, and a panic ensued there as serious as any that occurred during the war. The idea in the city was that the enemy had already sailed into Piraeus: in Piraeus it was thought that they had taken Salamis and might at any moment arrive in the port; as indeed might easily have been done if their hearts had been a little firmer: certainly no wind would have prevented them. As soon as day broke, the Athenians assembled in full force, launched their ships, and embarking in haste and uproar went with the fleet to Salamis, while their soldiery mounted guard in Piraeus. The Peloponnesians, on becoming aware of the coming relief, after they had overrun most of Salamis, hastily sailed off with their plunder and captives and the three ships from Fort Budorum to Nisaea; the state of their ships also causing them some anxiety, as it was a long while since they had been launched, and they were not water-tight. Arrived at Megara, they returned back on foot to Corinth. The Athenians finding them no longer at Salamis, sailed back themselves; and after this made arrangements for guarding Piraeus more diligently in future, by closing the harbours, and by other suitable precautions.
About the same time, at the beginning of this winter, Sitalces, son of Teres, the Odrysian king of Thrace, made an expedition against Perdiccas, son of Alexander, king of Macedonia, and the Chalcidians in the neighbourhood of Thrace; his object being to enforce one promise and fulfil another. On the one hand Perdiccas had made him a promise, when hard pressed at the commencement of the war, upon condition that Sitalces should reconcile the Athenians to him and not attempt to restore his brother and enemy, the pretender Philip, but had not offered to fulfil his engagement; on the other he, Sitalces, on entering into alliance with the Athenians, had agreed to put an end to the Chalcidian war in Thrace. These were the two objects of his invasion. With him he brought Amyntas, the son of Philip, whom he destined for the throne of Macedonia, and some Athenian envoys then at his court on this business, and Hagnon as general; for the Athenians were to join him against the Chalcidians with a fleet and as many soldiers as they could get together.
Modern Translation
Fire signals were raised to warn Athens, triggering one of the most severe panics of the entire war. Those in the city believed the enemy had already entered the Piraeus harbor, while those in Piraeus thought Salamis had fallen and that enemy ships might appear in port at any moment—something that could easily have happened if the Peloponnesians had shown more determination. No contrary wind would have stopped them. At daybreak, the Athenians mobilized completely, launching their ships and boarding them amid chaos and confusion. The fleet sailed for Salamis while the infantry took up defensive positions in Piraeus. When the Peloponnesians learned that reinforcements were approaching, they hurriedly departed after plundering most of Salamis, taking their spoils, prisoners, and the three captured ships from Fort Budorum back to Nisaea. They were also concerned about the condition of their vessels, which had been out of water for so long that they were no longer seaworthy. Upon reaching Megara, they marched back to Corinth on foot. Finding no enemy at Salamis, the Athenians returned and immediately implemented stricter security measures for Piraeus, including closing the harbors and establishing other appropriate defenses.
Around this same time, as winter began, Sitalces, son of Teres and king of the Odrysian Thracians, launched a campaign against Perdiccas, son of Alexander and king of Macedonia, as well as the Chalcidians in the Thracian region. His purpose was twofold: to enforce one agreement and honor another. Perdiccas had promised Sitalces certain concessions when he was struggling early in the war, on the condition that Sitalces would mediate peace with Athens and not support his brother Philip's claim to the throne. However, Perdiccas had failed to keep his word. Meanwhile, Sitalces had promised the Athenians, when forming their alliance, that he would end the Chalcidian conflict in Thrace. These were his two objectives for the invasion. He brought with him Amyntas, Philip's son, whom he intended to install as Macedonia's ruler, along with Athenian ambassadors who were visiting his court for these negotiations, and the general Hagnon. The Athenians had agreed to support him against the Chalcidians with a fleet and whatever troops they could muster.
Historical Context
This passage describes two significant events from 428 BCE during the Peloponnesian War. First, a Peloponnesian naval raid on Salamis causes mass panic in Athens, revealing the city's vulnerability to seaborne attacks. The raiders withdraw when Athenian reinforcements arrive, prompting Athens to strengthen harbor defenses. Second, Sitalces of Thrace launches a major expedition against Macedonia and the Chalcidians, attempting to enforce diplomatic agreements. The Thracian king seeks to punish Perdiccas of Macedonia for broken promises while fulfilling his own obligations to Athens. This demonstrates the complex web of alliances and competing interests that characterized the war, with regional powers like Thrace playing crucial roles in the conflict between Athens and Sparta.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Athenian Naval Defense
The panic over Salamis reveals Athens' dependence on naval supremacy and the psychological impact of threats to Piraeus, their vital port. The incident led to permanent changes in harbor security, showing how wartime experiences shaped defensive strategies.
Learn more →Fire Signals in Ancient Warfare
Fire beacons were crucial for rapid communication across distances in ancient Greece. This system allowed warnings to travel from Salamis to Athens quickly, though the panic shows how incomplete information could cause confusion.
Learn more →Odrysian Kingdom
The Odrysian kingdom under Sitalces was the most powerful Thracian state, controlling vast territories in the Balkans. Their intervention shows how regional powers could significantly impact the Peloponnesian War's course.
Learn more →Macedonian Politics
The dispute between Perdiccas II and his brother Philip illustrates typical succession conflicts in ancient Macedonia. Perdiccas's diplomatic maneuvering between Athens, Sparta, and Thrace exemplifies the survival strategies of smaller kingdoms.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.50)
Diodorus provides an account of Sitalces' expedition against Macedonia, offering additional details about the size of the Thracian forces and the campaign's outcome.
Read passage →Aristophanes: Acharnians (Lines 141-150)
This comedy, produced in 425 BCE, references the Thracian alliance and mocks Athenian reliance on foreign allies, providing contemporary commentary on these events.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.1-2)
Though describing later events, Xenophon's account of Peloponnesian naval raids on Attica shows the continuing vulnerability of Athens to seaborne attacks.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the panic in Athens reveal the psychological dimensions of warfare? What does this tell us about the relationship between military reality and public perception?
- Why might the Peloponnesian raiders have hesitated to press their advantage at Salamis? What does this suggest about the challenges of naval operations in ancient warfare?
- How does Sitalces' expedition illustrate the complex diplomatic relationships in the Greek world? What role did non-Greek powers play in the Peloponnesian War?
- What does Perdiccas's behavior reveal about the strategies available to smaller states caught between major powers?