Today's Passage
This passage describes three interconnected crises during the Peloponnesian War (around 427 BCE).
Crawley Translation (1910)
While the revolutionary passions thus for the first time displayed themselves in the factions of Corcyra, Eurymedon and the Athenian fleet sailed away; after which some five hundred Corcyraean exiles who had succeeded in escaping, took some forts on the mainland, and becoming masters of the Corcyraean territory over the water, made this their base to Plunder their countrymen in the island, and did so much damage as to cause a severe famine in the town. They also sent envoys to Lacedaemon and Corinth to negotiate their restoration; but meeting with no success, afterwards got together boats and mercenaries and crossed over to the island, being about six hundred in all; and burning their boats so as to have no hope except in becoming masters of the country, went up to Mount Istone, and fortifying themselves there, began to annoy those in the city and obtained command of the country.
At the close of the same summer the Athenians sent twenty ships under the command of Laches, son of Melanopus, and Charoeades, son of Euphiletus, to Sicily, where the Syracusans and Leontines were at war. The Syracusans had for allies all the Dorian cities except Camarina—these had been included in the Lacedaemonian confederacy from the commencement of the war, though they had not taken any active part in it—the Leontines had Camarina and the Chalcidian cities. In Italy the Locrians were for the Syracusans, the Rhegians for their Leontine kinsmen. The allies of the Leontines now sent to Athens and appealed to their ancient alliance and to their Ionian origin, to persuade the Athenians to send them a fleet, as the Syracusans were blockading them by land and sea. The Athenians sent it upon the plea of their common descent, but in reality to prevent the exportation of Sicilian corn to Peloponnese and to test the possibility of bringing Sicily into subjection. Accordingly they established themselves at Rhegium in Italy, and from thence carried on the war in concert with their allies.
Year of the War—Campaigns of Demosthenes in Western Greece—Ruin of Ambracia
Summer was now over. The winter following, the plague a second time attacked the Athenians; for although it had never entirely left them, still there had been a notable abatement in its ravages. The second visit lasted no less than a year, the first having lasted two; and nothing distressed the Athenians and reduced their power more than this. No less than four thousand four hundred heavy infantry in the ranks died of it and three hundred cavalry, besides a number of the multitude that was never ascertained. At the same time took place the numerous earthquakes in Athens, Euboea, and Boeotia, particularly at Orchomenus in the last-named country.
Modern Translation
While revolutionary violence erupted for the first time among the factions in Corcyra, Eurymedon and the Athenian fleet departed. Following their withdrawal, approximately five hundred Corcyraean exiles who had managed to escape seized several fortresses on the mainland. Having established control over Corcyraean territory on the continent, they used this as their operational base to raid their fellow citizens on the island, inflicting such extensive damage that severe famine gripped the city. They dispatched ambassadors to Sparta and Corinth seeking to negotiate their return, but when these efforts proved fruitless, they assembled boats and mercenaries and crossed to the island—about six hundred men in total. After burning their vessels to eliminate any possibility of retreat except through conquering the territory, they ascended Mount Istone, fortified their position, and began harassing the city's inhabitants while establishing control over the countryside.
As that same summer concluded, the Athenians dispatched twenty ships commanded by Laches, son of Melanopus, and Charoeades, son of Euphiletus, to Sicily, where Syracuse and Leontini were engaged in warfare. The Syracusans counted among their allies all the Dorian cities except Camarina—these had been affiliated with the Spartan alliance since the war's inception, though they had remained inactive participants. The Leontines were supported by Camarina and the Chalcidian cities. In Italy, the Locrians sided with Syracuse, while the Rhegians supported their Leontine kinsmen. The Leontine allies now appealed to Athens, invoking their ancient alliance and shared Ionian heritage, urging the Athenians to send naval support as the Syracusans were blockading them by both land and sea. The Athenians dispatched the fleet ostensibly due to their common ancestry, but their true motives were preventing Sicilian grain exports to the Peloponnese and testing whether Sicily might be brought under their control. Consequently, they established their base at Rhegium in Italy and conducted military operations alongside their allies.
Summer had ended. During the following winter, plague struck the Athenians for a second time. Though it had never completely disappeared, there had been a significant reduction in its severity. This second outbreak persisted for no less than a year, while the initial epidemic had lasted two years. Nothing weakened Athens and diminished its power more severely than this disease. At least four thousand four hundred heavy infantry soldiers perished, along with three hundred cavalry, plus countless ordinary citizens whose numbers were never determined. During this same period, numerous earthquakes occurred in Athens, Euboea, and Boeotia, with Orchomenus in Boeotia experiencing particularly severe tremors.
Historical Context
This passage describes three interconnected crises during the Peloponnesian War (around 427 BCE). First, the civil war in Corcyra continues after Athenian intervention, with exiled oligarchs establishing a base on the mainland to attack the democratic faction. Second, Athens extends its imperial reach to Sicily, ostensibly to help allied cities but actually to control grain supplies and expand westward. Third, Athens suffers a devastating second wave of plague that kills thousands of soldiers and civilians, severely weakening its military capacity. These events illustrate how the war's scope expanded beyond mainland Greece while Athens faced internal catastrophes that undermined its power. The simultaneous earthquakes suggest divine displeasure in ancient Greek thinking.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Corcyraean Civil War
The stasis (civil conflict) in Corcyra became paradigmatic for Thucydides of how war corrupts political life. The exiles' burning of their boats echoes military tactics used elsewhere, showing desperation and commitment. This civil war demonstrated how the larger Peloponnesian War destabilized internal politics throughout the Greek world.
Learn more →Athenian Expedition to Sicily
This initial expedition to Sicily (427 BCE) foreshadows the disastrous Sicilian Expedition of 415-413 BCE. Athens's dual motivation—proclaimed kinship versus real imperial ambition—exemplifies Thucydides' distinction between pretexts and true causes. The grain supply issue reveals Sicily's economic importance to both sides in the war.
Learn more →The Plague of Athens
The second outbreak of plague (probably typhus or typhoid fever) devastated Athenian military strength. The loss of 4,400 hoplites and 300 cavalry represented about 25-30% of Athens's heavy infantry. Thucydides himself survived the plague, giving his account particular authority and vividness.
Learn more →Ancient Greek Earthquakes
Earthquakes were interpreted as divine signs in ancient Greece, often associated with Poseidon. The clustering of seismic activity during wartime would have been seen as ominous. Orchomenus in Boeotia, mentioned specifically, was an important city that had sided with Sparta against Athens.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.53-54)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of the Athenian expedition to Sicily in 427 BCE, offering additional details about the negotiations and the specific cities involved in the conflict.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (Chapter 12)
Though focusing on later events, Plutarch discusses the earlier Athenian involvement in Sicily that set precedents for the later catastrophic expedition, showing the continuity of Athenian imperial ambitions.
Read passage →Aristotle: Constitution of Athens (Chapter 26-27)
Aristotle discusses the impact of the plague on Athenian politics and demographics, noting how the loss of citizens affected the democracy and led to changes in citizenship laws.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides contrast the stated reasons for Athenian intervention in Sicily with their true motives? What does this reveal about the nature of imperial power?
- Why might the Corcyraean exiles have burned their boats? How does this action reflect the desperateness and totality of civil war?
- How would the simultaneous occurrence of plague, civil strife, and earthquakes have been interpreted by ancient Greeks? What role does divine causation play in Thucydides' historical method?
- What does the casualty count from the plague tell us about the scale of Athens's military losses? How might this have affected Athenian strategy going forward?