Today's Passage
This passage describes the opening of the Mytilenean revolt in 428 BCE, a critical episode in the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
However, the Athenians, distressed by the plague, and by the war that had recently broken out and was now raging, thought it a serious matter to add Lesbos with its fleet and untouched resources to the list of their enemies; and at first would not believe the charge, giving too much weight to their wish that it might not be true. But when an embassy which they sent had failed to persuade the Mitylenians to give up the union and preparations complained of, they became alarmed, and resolved to strike the first blow. They accordingly suddenly sent off forty ships that had been got ready to sail round Peloponnese, under the command of Cleippides, son of Deinias, and two others; word having been brought them of a festival in honour of the Malean Apollo outside the town, which is kept by the whole people of Mitylene, and at which, if haste were made, they might hope to take them by surprise. If this plan succeeded, well and good; if not, they were to order the Mitylenians to deliver up their ships and to pull down their walls, and if they did not obey, to declare war. The ships accordingly set out; the ten galleys, forming the contingent of the Mitylenians present with the fleet according to the terms of the alliance, being detained by the Athenians, and their crews placed in custody. However, the Mitylenians were informed of the expedition by a man who crossed from Athens to Euboea, and going overland to Geraestus, sailed from thence by a merchantman which he found on the point of putting to sea, and so arrived at Mitylene the third day after leaving Athens. The Mitylenians accordingly refrained from going out to the temple at Malea, and moreover barricaded and kept guard round the half-finished parts of their walls and harbours.
When the Athenians sailed in not long after and saw how things stood, the generals delivered their orders, and upon the Mitylenians refusing to obey, commenced hostilities. The Mitylenians, thus compelled to go to war without notice and unprepared, at first sailed out with their fleet and made some show of fighting, a little in front of the harbour; but being driven back by the Athenian ships, immediately offered to treat with the commanders, wishing, if possible, to get the ships away for the present upon any tolerable terms. The Athenian commanders accepted their offers, being themselves fearful that they might not be able to cope with the whole of Lesbos; and an armistice having been concluded, the Mitylenians sent to Athens one of the informers, already repentant of his conduct, and others with him, to try to persuade the Athenians of the innocence of their intentions and to get the fleet recalled. In the meantime, having no great hope of a favourable answer from Athens, they also sent off a galley with envoys to Lacedaemon, unobserved by the Athenian fleet which was anchored at Malea to the north of the town.
Modern Translation
The Athenians, however, were already suffering from the plague and the war that had recently erupted and was now at its height. They considered it a grave matter to add Lesbos—with its naval power and untapped resources—to their list of enemies. Initially, they refused to believe the allegations, placing too much faith in their desire that the charges be false. But when the embassy they dispatched failed to convince the Mytileneans to abandon their confederacy and cease their preparations, the Athenians grew alarmed and decided to strike preemptively. They hastily dispatched forty ships that had been prepared for a voyage around the Peloponnese, placing them under the command of Cleippides, son of Deinias, and two other commanders. They had received intelligence that the entire population of Mytilene would be outside the city celebrating a festival in honor of Malean Apollo, and if they moved quickly, they might catch them off guard. If this strategy succeeded, excellent; if not, they were to demand that the Mytileneans surrender their fleet and demolish their fortifications, and if they refused, to declare war. The fleet departed accordingly. The Athenians detained the ten Mytilenean ships serving with their fleet under treaty obligations and imprisoned their crews. The Mytileneans, however, were warned of the expedition by a man who traveled from Athens to Euboea, crossed overland to Geraestus, and caught a merchant vessel about to sail, reaching Mytilene just three days after leaving Athens. Consequently, the Mytileneans stayed away from the temple at Malea and stationed guards around the unfinished sections of their walls and harbors.
When the Athenian fleet arrived shortly afterward and assessed the situation, the commanders delivered their ultimatum. When the Mytileneans refused compliance, hostilities began. The Mytileneans, forced into war without warning or preparation, initially sailed out with their fleet and made a show of resistance just outside the harbor. But when the Athenian ships drove them back, they immediately sought negotiations with the commanders, hoping to secure the withdrawal of the fleet on any reasonable terms. The Athenian commanders accepted their proposals, themselves concerned that they might be unable to handle all of Lesbos alone. After concluding an armistice, the Mytileneans sent one of the original informers—now regretting his actions—along with others to Athens, attempting to convince the Athenians of their innocent intentions and secure the fleet's recall. Meanwhile, with little confidence in a favorable response from Athens, they secretly dispatched a ship with envoys to Sparta, evading the Athenian fleet anchored at Malea north of the city.
Historical Context
This passage describes the opening of the Mytilenean revolt in 428 BCE, a critical episode in the Peloponnesian War. Mytilene, the principal city of Lesbos and one of Athens' few remaining autonomous allies, attempted to break away from the Athenian empire during Athens' moment of weakness due to plague and war. The Athenians, despite their stretched resources, moved swiftly to prevent the defection, launching a preemptive naval expedition. The passage reveals the complex intelligence networks of the ancient world, as a sympathizer warned Mytilene of the impending attack. The initial military confrontation ended in a tense standoff, with Mytilene seeking diplomatic solutions while secretly approaching Sparta for support. This revolt would ultimately fail, leading to one of the most famous debates in Thucydides about the appropriate punishment for the rebels.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Athenian Plague
The plague struck Athens in 430 BCE, killing perhaps a quarter of the population including Pericles. It severely weakened Athenian military capacity and morale, creating opportunities for allied revolts. The disease's exact nature remains debated, with theories ranging from typhus to ebola.
Learn more →Lesbos and the Delian League
Lesbos was one of the few members of the Delian League that still contributed ships rather than money, maintaining some autonomy. Its attempted defection threatened Athens' naval supremacy and encouraged other potential rebels.
Learn more →Ancient Greek Intelligence Networks
This passage illustrates sophisticated intelligence gathering in antiquity. The warning to Mytilene shows how information could travel faster than official forces through informal networks of sympathizers and merchants.
Learn more →Religious Festivals and Warfare
The Athenians planned to exploit a religious festival to catch Mytilene unprepared, showing how sacred occasions created military vulnerabilities. Such festivals were integral to Greek civic life but could be strategically dangerous.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Aristotle: Constitution of Athens (Chapter 28)
Discusses the financial pressures on Athens during this period and how the empire's tribute system worked, providing context for why losing Lesbos would be catastrophic.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 1, Chapter 1.11)
Describes later Mytilenean involvement in the war, showing the long-term consequences of this failed revolt and continued tensions between Lesbos and Athens.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.55)
Provides an alternative account of the Mytilenean revolt with different details about the negotiations and Spartan involvement, offering comparative perspective.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the speed of information travel in this passage reveal the complexity of ancient Greek political networks?
- What does the Athenian response to Mytilene's potential revolt tell us about the nature of their empire and the balance between persuasion and force?
- Why might the Mytileneans have chosen this particular moment to attempt breaking from Athens, and what does this suggest about timing in political strategy?
- How does Thucydides' presentation of both Athenian and Mytilenean perspectives reflect his approach to historical objectivity?