Today's Passage
This passage describes the climactic phase of the Corcyraean civil war (stasis) in 427 BCE, one of the most notorious episodes of internal violence in Greek history.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Meanwhile the commons in Corcyra, being still in great fear of the fleet attacking them, came to a parley with the suppliants and their friends, in order to save the town; and prevailed upon some of them to go on board the ships, of which they still manned thirty, against the expected attack. But the Peloponnesians after ravaging the country until midday sailed away, and towards nightfall were informed by beacon signals of the approach of sixty Athenian vessels from Leucas, under the command of Eurymedon, son of Thucles; which had been sent off by the Athenians upon the news of the revolution and of the fleet with Alcidas being about to sail for Corcyra.
The Peloponnesians accordingly at once set off in haste by night for home, coasting along shore; and hauling their ships across the Isthmus of Leucas, in order not to be seen doubling it, so departed. The Corcyraeans, made aware of the approach of the Athenian fleet and of the departure of the enemy, brought the Messenians from outside the walls into the town, and ordered the fleet which they had manned to sail round into the Hyllaic harbour; and while it was so doing, slew such of their enemies as they laid hands on, dispatching afterwards, as they landed them, those whom they had persuaded to go on board the ships. Next they went to the sanctuary of Hera and persuaded about fifty men to take their trial, and condemned them all to death. The mass of the suppliants who had refused to do so, on seeing what was taking place, slew each other there in the consecrated ground; while some hanged themselves upon the trees, and others destroyed themselves as they were severally able. During seven days that Eurymedon stayed with his sixty ships, the Corcyraeans were engaged in butchering those of their fellow citizens whom they regarded as their enemies: and although the crime imputed was that of attempting to put down the democracy, some were slain also for private hatred, others by their debtors because of the moneys owed to them. Death thus raged in every shape; and, as usually happens at such times, there was no length to which violence did not go; sons were killed by their fathers, and suppliants dragged from the altar or slain upon it; while some were even walled up in the temple of Dionysus and died there.
Modern Translation
Meanwhile, the democratic faction in Corcyra, still terrified that the fleet might attack them, opened negotiations with the oligarchic suppliants and their supporters, hoping to protect the city. They convinced some of them to board ships—they managed to man thirty vessels—to defend against the anticipated assault. However, the Peloponnesians, after plundering the countryside until noon, sailed away. Toward evening, beacon fires alerted them that sixty Athenian ships were approaching from Leucas, commanded by Eurymedon, son of Thucles. The Athenians had dispatched this force upon learning of the civil war and that Alcidas's fleet was heading for Corcyra.
The Peloponnesians immediately fled homeward under cover of darkness, hugging the coastline. They hauled their ships across the Leucadian isthmus to avoid being spotted rounding it, and thus escaped. When the Corcyraeans learned of the Athenian fleet's arrival and their enemies' departure, they brought the Messenian troops from outside into the city and ordered their fleet to sail around to Hyllaic harbor. During this maneuver, they killed every opponent they could catch, and subsequently executed those they had persuaded to board the ships as they disembarked. They then went to Hera's temple and convinced about fifty men to stand trial, condemning them all to death. The remaining suppliants, witnessing these horrors and refusing to surrender, began killing each other within the sacred precinct. Some hanged themselves from trees; others ended their lives by whatever means available. For seven days, while Eurymedon remained with his sixty ships, the Corcyraeans slaughtered those fellow citizens they considered enemies. Though they claimed to be suppressing anti-democratic conspirators, many died for personal vendettas, while others were murdered by debtors who owed them money. Death manifested in every conceivable form, and as typically occurs in such circumstances, no atrocity was left uncommitted. Sons murdered their fathers; suppliants were torn from altars or killed upon them; some were even sealed inside Dionysus's temple and left to die.
Historical Context
This passage describes the climactic phase of the Corcyraean civil war (stasis) in 427 BCE, one of the most notorious episodes of internal violence in Greek history. The conflict pitted democratic forces against oligarchic factions, with both sides seeking external support—the democrats from Athens, the oligarchs from Sparta. The arrival of the Athenian fleet under Eurymedon tipped the balance decisively in favor of the democrats, who then unleashed a reign of terror against their opponents. This massacre became paradigmatic for Thucydides of how civil war destroys the moral fabric of society, leading to the complete breakdown of traditional values, religious sanctity, and familial bonds. The episode illustrates the brutalization of Greek politics during the Peloponnesian War.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Greek Stasis
Stasis (civil war) was a recurring phenomenon in Greek city-states, involving violent conflict between democratic and oligarchic factions. Thucydides uses Corcyra as a case study for how external war exacerbates internal divisions, leading to complete social breakdown.
Learn more →Sanctuary Rights
Greek religious sanctuaries traditionally offered asylum to suppliants. The violation of this sacred protection at Hera's temple and the murder of suppliants represents a fundamental breach of religious law (asebeia), highlighting the complete moral collapse during the stasis.
Learn more →Athenian Naval Power
The rapid deployment of sixty ships under Eurymedon demonstrates Athens' naval supremacy and ability to project power across the Greek world. This intervention secured Corcyra as an ally, maintaining Athens' strategic position in the Ionian Sea.
Learn more →The Isthmus of Leucas
The Peloponnesian fleet's portage across the Leucadian isthmus (diolkos) was a common ancient naval tactic to avoid dangerous or observed sea routes. This maneuver allowed them to escape without engaging the superior Athenian force.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.57)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of the Corcyraean stasis, though with less detail about the atrocities. He emphasizes the role of class conflict and the intervention of external powers.
Read passage →Aristotle: Politics (Book 5.1304b)
Aristotle cites the Corcyraean stasis as an example of how external war can trigger internal revolution, noting how the democratic party's fear of Spartan intervention led to preemptive violence.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 2.3.39-56)
Xenophon's account of the Thirty Tyrants' reign of terror in Athens (404-403 BCE) parallels Thucydides' Corcyra narrative, showing similar patterns of political violence, sanctuary violations, and societal breakdown.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides use religious violations (sanctuary breaches, temple murders) to illustrate the complete breakdown of traditional Greek values during civil war?
- What role does external intervention play in escalating internal conflicts? Consider how the arrival of Eurymedon's fleet enabled the democratic atrocities.
- Thucydides mentions that some victims were killed by debtors. How does economic motivation complicate the political narrative of democratic versus oligarchic conflict?
- Compare the behavior of the Peloponnesian fleet (avoiding conflict) with the Corcyraean democrats (pursuing vengeance). What does this suggest about the different moral constraints operating in interstate versus civil war?