Today's Passage
This passage describes the aftermath of the Mytilenean revolt (428-427 BCE), as the Athenian general Paches consolidates control over rebellious territories.
Crawley Translation (1910)
On his return along shore he touched, among other places, at Notium, the port of Colophon, where the Colophonians had settled after the capture of the upper town by Itamenes and the barbarians, who had been called in by certain individuals in a party quarrel. The capture of the town took place about the time of the second Peloponnesian invasion of Attica. However, the refugees, after settling at Notium, again split up into factions, one of which called in Arcadian and barbarian mercenaries from Pissuthnes and, entrenching these in a quarter apart, formed a new community with the Median party of the Colophonians who joined them from the upper town. Their opponents had retired into exile, and now called in Paches, who invited Hippias, the commander of the Arcadians in the fortified quarter, to a parley, upon condition that, if they could not agree, he was to be put back safe and sound in the fortification. However, upon his coming out to him, he put him into custody, though not in chains, and attacked suddenly and took by surprise the fortification, and putting the Arcadians and the barbarians found in it to the sword, afterwards took Hippias into it as he had promised, and, as soon as he was inside, seized him and shot him down. Paches then gave up Notium to the Colophonians not of the Median party; and settlers were afterwards sent out from Athens, and the place colonized according to Athenian laws, after collecting all the Colophonians found in any of the cities.
Arrived at Mitylene, Paches reduced Pyrrha and Eresus; and finding the Lacedaemonian, Salaethus, in hiding in the town, sent him off to Athens, together with the Mitylenians that he had placed in Tenedos, and any other persons that he thought concerned in the revolt. He also sent back the greater part of his forces, remaining with the rest to settle Mitylene and the rest of Lesbos as he thought best.
Modern Translation
On his voyage back along the coast, Paches stopped at various places, including Notium, the harbor of Colophon. The Colophonians had relocated there after Itamenes and his barbarian allies captured their upper city—these barbarians had been invited in by certain citizens during internal political strife. The city's capture occurred around the time of the Peloponnesians' second invasion of Attica. Yet even after resettling in Notium, the refugees divided into factions once more. One group hired Arcadian and barbarian mercenaries from Pissuthnes, stationed them in a separate fortified district, and established a new faction alongside the pro-Persian Colophonians who had joined them from the upper city. Their political opponents fled into exile and subsequently appealed to Paches for help. Paches invited Hippias, the Arcadian commander in the fortified district, to negotiate, promising that if they failed to reach agreement, he would return him safely to his stronghold. When Hippias emerged for the meeting, Paches detained him—though without chains—then launched a surprise assault on the fortification. After slaughtering all the Arcadians and barbarians inside, he brought Hippias back into the fort as promised, but immediately seized and executed him with arrows. Paches then handed Notium over to the anti-Persian Colophonians. Later, Athens sent out colonists and reorganized the settlement under Athenian laws, after gathering all Colophonians scattered throughout various cities. Upon reaching Mytilene, Paches subdued Pyrrha and Eresus. He discovered the Spartan Salaethus hiding in the city and dispatched him to Athens, along with the Mytileneans he had detained on Tenedos and others he deemed complicit in the rebellion. He then sent most of his troops home, keeping a garrison to reorganize Mytilene and the rest of Lesbos according to his judgment.
Historical Context
This passage describes the aftermath of the Mytilenean revolt (428-427 BCE), as the Athenian general Paches consolidates control over rebellious territories. The episode at Notium illustrates the complex civil conflicts that often accompanied the larger war between Athens and Sparta, with local factions seeking support from either side or from Persian satraps like Pissuthnes. Paches' deceptive treatment of Hippias demonstrates the brutal pragmatism of wartime operations. The reorganization of these cities under Athenian control shows how Athens used military victory to expand its empire, installing friendly governments and sometimes Athenian colonists. This systematic subjugation of Lesbos marks a crucial moment in Athens' imperial policy.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Stasis (Civil Conflict)
The internal strife at Colophon exemplifies 'stasis,' the Greek term for civil war or factional conflict within a polis. Thucydides saw stasis as a recurring pattern in the Peloponnesian War, where local conflicts became entangled with the larger struggle between Athens and Sparta.
Learn more →Persian Influence
Pissuthnes was the Persian satrap of Lydia who frequently intervened in Greek affairs. The 'Median party' refers to pro-Persian factions, showing how the Greek-Persian conflict continued to shape local politics decades after the Persian Wars.
Learn more →Athenian Cleruchies
The resettlement of Notium 'according to Athenian laws' likely refers to a cleruchy, where Athenian citizens received land allotments in subject territories. This practice strengthened Athenian control while providing land for poorer citizens.
Learn more →Greek Mercenaries
The Arcadian mercenaries mentioned were from the mountainous central Peloponnese, a region that produced many professional soldiers. Their employment by various sides shows the increasingly professionalized nature of Greek warfare.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Xenophon: Hellenica (1.2.4-10)
Xenophon describes later Athenian operations near Notium (407 BCE), including the disastrous battle where Alcibiades' subordinate was defeated by the Spartans, showing the continuing strategic importance of this location.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (6.1-2)
Plutarch mentions the Mytilenean revolt and its aftermath, providing additional context about Athenian debates over the punishment of Mytilene and the role of demagogues in shaping policy.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.55-56)
Diodorus provides an account of the Mytilenean revolt and its suppression, offering details about the siege and the Athenian response that complement Thucydides' narrative.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Paches' deception of Hippias reflect on Athenian military ethics? Was his promise-breaking justified by military necessity?
- What does the repeated factional strife at Colophon suggest about the stability of Greek city-states during wartime?
- How did the involvement of Persian satraps like Pissuthnes complicate the dynamics of the Peloponnesian War?
- What are the implications of Athens imposing its own laws and colonists on defeated cities for understanding Athenian imperialism?