Today's Passage
This passage describes the sophisticated siege works constructed by the Peloponnesians during their blockade of Plataea (429-427 BCE), a small but strategically crucial Athenian ally.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Now the wall of the Peloponnesians was constructed as follows. It consisted of two lines drawn round the place, one against the Plataeans, the other against any attack on the outside from Athens, about sixteen feet apart. The intermediate space of sixteen feet was occupied by huts portioned out among the soldiers on guard, and built in one block, so as to give the appearance of a single thick wall with battlements on either side. At intervals of every ten battlements were towers of considerable size, and the same breadth as the wall, reaching right across from its inner to its outer face, with no means of passing except through the middle. Accordingly on stormy and wet nights the battlements were deserted, and guard kept from the towers, which were not far apart and roofed in above.
Modern Translation
The Peloponnesian siege wall was constructed in this manner: It comprised two parallel lines encircling the city—one facing the Plataeans, the other defending against any external attack from Athens—separated by approximately sixteen feet. This intermediate space was filled with interconnected guard quarters, creating what appeared to be a single massive wall with battlements on both sides. Every ten battlements, substantial towers spanned the wall's entire width, from inner to outer face, allowing passage only through their centers. During storms and rainy nights, soldiers abandoned the exposed battlements and maintained watch from these towers, which stood at close intervals and were covered overhead.
Historical Context
This passage describes the sophisticated siege works constructed by the Peloponnesians during their blockade of Plataea (429-427 BCE), a small but strategically crucial Athenian ally. The siege began after Plataea refused to abandon its alliance with Athens at the war's outset. The Spartans, leading the Peloponnesian forces, invested considerable resources in this siege, constructing elaborate circumvallation works to prevent both escape and relief. The double wall system described here represents advanced siege warfare technology, designed to starve out the defenders while protecting the besiegers from Athenian relief forces. This meticulous description exemplifies Thucydides' attention to military detail and his interest in technological innovation during warfare. The siege would ultimately last over two years, ending with Plataea's surrender and the execution of its defenders.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Ancient Siege Warfare
The double-wall circumvallation technique described here was a sophisticated siege method, allowing besiegers to maintain a blockade while defending against relief forces. This design, with integrated living quarters and defensive towers, represents the evolution of siege craft in the Classical period.
Learn more →Plataea
A small Boeotian city that remained loyal to Athens after fighting alongside them at Marathon (490 BCE). Its strategic location near Thebes made it a crucial Athenian outpost in hostile territory, explaining why both sides invested heavily in this siege.
Learn more →Greek Military Architecture
The tower system described demonstrates sophisticated defensive architecture. Towers provided elevated firing positions, weather protection, and control points for movement along the walls, representing standard features in Greek fortification design.
Learn more →Thucydides' Technical Descriptions
This passage exemplifies Thucydides' precise technical writing style, providing exact measurements and architectural details. Such descriptions reflect his military experience and commitment to accurate historical recording.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.56)
Diodorus provides a briefer account of the Plataean siege, focusing more on the political implications than the technical details of the siege works.
Read passage →Herodotus: Histories (Book 9.51-52)
Describes the earlier Persian siege of Plataea (479 BCE), providing context for the city's fortifications and its strategic importance in Boeotia.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 5.4.14-20)
Describes later siege operations at Phlius, employing similar double-wall circumvallation techniques, showing the continued use of these methods in Greek warfare.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the sophistication of these siege works reflect the resources and commitment the Peloponnesians invested in capturing a relatively small city?
- What does this detailed technical description reveal about Thucydides' approach to historical writing and his intended audience?
- How might the design of these fortifications—particularly the provision for weather protection—have affected the morale and effectiveness of both besiegers and besieged?
- Compare this siege technology with modern military engineering. What principles remain constant in siege warfare across millennia?