Today's Passage
This passage describes two distinct military and natural events from 426 BCE.
Crawley Translation (1910)
The same winter the Athenians in Sicily and the Rhegians, with thirty ships, made an expedition against the islands of Aeolus; it being impossible to invade them in summer, owing to the want of water. These islands are occupied by the Liparaeans, a Cnidian colony, who live in one of them of no great size called Lipara; and from this as their headquarters cultivate the rest, Didyme, Strongyle, and Hiera. In Hiera the people in those parts believe that Hephaestus has his forge, from the quantity of flame which they see it send out by night, and of smoke by day. These islands lie off the coast of the Sicels and Messinese, and were allies of the Syracusans. The Athenians laid waste their land, and as the inhabitants did not submit, sailed back to Rhegium. Thus the winter ended, and with it ended the fifth year of this war, of which Thucydides was the historian.
The next summer the Peloponnesians and their allies set out to invade Attica under the command of Agis, son of Archidamus, and went as far as the Isthmus, but numerous earthquakes occurring, turned back again without the invasion taking place. About the same time that these earthquakes were so common, the sea at Orobiae, in Euboea, retiring from the then line of coast, returned in a huge wave and invaded a great part of the town, and retreated leaving some of it still under water; so that what was once land is now sea; such of the inhabitants perishing as could not run up to the higher ground in time. A similar inundation also occurred at Atalanta, the island off the Opuntian Locrian coast, carrying away part of the Athenian fort and wrecking one of two ships which were drawn up on the beach. At Peparethus also the sea retreated a little, without however any inundation following; and an earthquake threw down part of the wall, the town hall, and a few other buildings. The cause, in my opinion, of this phenomenon must be sought in the earthquake. At the point where its shock has been the most violent, the sea is driven back and, suddenly recoiling with redoubled force, causes the inundation. Without an earthquake I do not see how such an accident could happen.
Modern Translation
That same winter, the Athenians stationed in Sicily joined forces with the Rhegians and launched a naval expedition with thirty ships against the Aeolian Islands. Summer campaigns against these islands were impossible due to the lack of fresh water. The Liparaeans, descendants of Cnidian colonists, inhabit these islands. They live primarily on Lipara, which though not large, serves as their base for cultivating the other islands: Didyme, Strongyle, and Hiera. The local inhabitants believe that Hephaestus maintains his forge on Hiera, as evidenced by the flames visible at night and smoke rising during the day. These islands are situated off the coast of the Sicels and Messinians and were allied with Syracuse. The Athenians devastated their territory, but when the inhabitants refused to surrender, the fleet returned to Rhegium. Thus winter concluded, marking the end of the fifth year of this war, which Thucydides has recorded.
The following summer, the Peloponnesians and their allies prepared to invade Attica under Agis, son of Archidamus. They advanced as far as the Isthmus, but a series of severe earthquakes forced them to abandon the invasion and return home. During this period of frequent seismic activity, the sea at Orobiae in Euboea suddenly withdrew from its normal shoreline, then surged back as a massive wave that overwhelmed much of the town. When the waters receded, areas that had been dry land remained submerged. Those unable to reach higher ground in time perished. A similar tsunami struck Atalanta, an island off the Opuntian Locrian coast, destroying part of an Athenian fort and wrecking one of two beached ships. At Peparethus, the sea also retreated slightly, though no flooding followed; there an earthquake demolished part of the city wall, the town hall, and several other structures. I believe the explanation for this phenomenon lies in the earthquake itself. Where the seismic shock is most intense, it drives the sea back, which then rebounds with amplified force, creating the flood. Without an earthquake, I cannot conceive how such an event could occur.
Historical Context
This passage describes two distinct military and natural events from 426 BCE. First, it recounts a minor Athenian naval raid on the Aeolian Islands, allies of Syracuse, demonstrating Athens' continued aggression in the western Mediterranean despite the ongoing war with Sparta. The expedition's failure to secure submission shows the limits of Athenian power projection. The second part describes a series of earthquakes and tsunamis that prevented a Spartan invasion of Attica and devastated several coastal areas. Thucydides' scientific analysis of tsunamis represents one of the earliest recorded attempts to explain this natural phenomenon through empirical observation rather than divine intervention. This juxtaposition of human military action and natural disaster reflects Thucydides' interest in both human agency and the role of chance in historical events.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Aeolian Islands
A volcanic archipelago north of Sicily, including modern Lipari, Salina (ancient Didyme), Stromboli (Strongyle), and Vulcano (Hiera). Their strategic location made them important for controlling sea routes between Italy and Sicily. The volcanic activity, particularly on Vulcano, led to the mythological association with Hephaestus' forge.
Learn more →Ancient Tsunami Science
Thucydides provides one of the earliest scientific explanations of tsunamis, correctly linking them to earthquakes. His observation that the sea first retreats before surging forward accurately describes tsunami behavior. This rational approach to natural phenomena exemplifies the Greek intellectual revolution of the 5th century BCE.
Learn more →Sicilian Expedition Context
This minor raid foreshadows Athens' disastrous full-scale Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE). The Athenian presence in Sicily and their attacks on Syracuse's allies demonstrate their imperial ambitions in the western Mediterranean, which would ultimately contribute to their defeat in the Peloponnesian War.
Learn more →Agis II of Sparta
Son of Archidamus II and king of Sparta (427-400 BCE), Agis led multiple invasions of Attica during the Peloponnesian War. His decision to turn back due to earthquakes shows how natural phenomena were often interpreted as divine omens affecting military decisions in ancient warfare.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.59)
Diodorus also describes the earthquakes and tsunamis of 426 BCE, providing additional details about the destruction and confirming Thucydides' account of these natural disasters affecting military operations.
Read passage →Strabo: Geography (Book 6.2.10-11)
Strabo provides detailed geographical information about the Aeolian Islands and their volcanic nature, supporting Thucydides' account of the flames and smoke visible from Hiera (Vulcano).
Read passage →Aristotle: Meteorology (Book 2.8)
Aristotle discusses earthquakes and their relationship to sea movements, developing a more systematic theory that builds on observations like those made by Thucydides about the connection between seismic activity and tsunamis.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides' scientific explanation of tsunamis reflect the intellectual climate of 5th century Athens? What does this tell us about the development of rational thought in ancient Greece?
- Why might the Spartans have interpreted the earthquakes as a reason to abandon their invasion? How did natural phenomena influence military decision-making in the ancient world?
- What does the Athenian raid on the Aeolian Islands reveal about Athens' strategic priorities and imperial ambitions during this phase of the war?
- How does Thucydides balance human agency and natural forces in his historical narrative? What role does chance play in his understanding of historical causation?