Today's Passage
This passage marks a significant chronological milestone in Thucydides' narrative—the end of the sixth year of the Peloponnesian War (426 BCE).
Crawley Translation (1910)
In the first days of this spring, the stream of fire issued from Etna, as on former occasions, and destroyed some land of the Catanians, who live upon Mount Etna, which is the largest mountain in Sicily. Fifty years, it is said, had elapsed since the last eruption, there having been three in all since the Hellenes have inhabited Sicily. Such were the events of this winter; and with it ended the sixth year of this war, of which Thucydides was the historian.
Modern Translation
At the beginning of spring, Mount Etna erupted with streams of lava, as it had done before, destroying portions of land belonging to the Catanians who inhabit the slopes of this mountain—Sicily's largest. According to reports, fifty years had passed since the previous eruption, making this only the third such event since Greeks first colonized Sicily. These were the occurrences of that winter, which marked the conclusion of the sixth year of this war that Thucydides has chronicled.
Historical Context
This passage marks a significant chronological milestone in Thucydides' narrative—the end of the sixth year of the Peloponnesian War (426 BCE). The volcanic eruption of Mount Etna serves as a natural phenomenon that punctuates the historical record, providing a rare glimpse of non-military events in Thucydides' otherwise war-focused account. The Catanians mentioned were Greek colonists living in Catania, a city on the eastern coast of Sicily near Mount Etna. By noting this eruption alongside his careful chronology of the war, Thucydides demonstrates his commitment to comprehensive historical recording. The reference to previous eruptions and Greek colonization also reveals his interest in establishing temporal frameworks beyond the immediate conflict, connecting the present war to the longer sweep of Greek history in the western Mediterranean.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Mount Etna in Antiquity
Mount Etna was well-known to ancient Greeks as Europe's most active volcano. Its eruptions were recorded by various ancient authors and often interpreted as divine omens. The volcano featured prominently in mythology, believed to be the forge of Hephaestus or the prison of the giant Typhon.
Learn more →Greek Colonization of Sicily
Greeks began colonizing Sicily in the 8th century BCE, establishing major cities like Syracuse, Catania, and Gela. These colonies became prosperous and culturally significant, often rivaling their mother cities in Greece. The reference to 'since the Hellenes have inhabited Sicily' likely dates from around 734 BCE.
Learn more →Thucydides' Chronological Method
Thucydides pioneered a systematic chronological approach to history, organizing events by summers and winters rather than by archon years or Olympiads. His self-reference here as 'the historian' demonstrates his consciousness of creating a definitive historical record.
Learn more →Natural Phenomena in Ancient Historiography
Ancient historians often included natural disasters and celestial events in their narratives, viewing them as potentially significant omens or divine interventions. Thucydides' matter-of-fact treatment of the eruption reflects his rationalistic approach, contrasting with more superstitious interpretations common in his era.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 14.59.3)
Diodorus, a Sicilian historian, provides accounts of various Etna eruptions and their impact on local populations, offering a regional perspective that complements Thucydides' brief mention.
Read passage →Strabo: Geography (Book 6.2.8)
Strabo describes Mount Etna's geography and volcanic activity, providing scientific observations about the mountain's eruptions and their frequency that align with Thucydides' chronological notes.
Read passage →Pausanias: Description of Greece (Book 3.23.9)
Pausanias mentions how natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions were interpreted as divine signs during wartime, providing cultural context for understanding how Thucydides' contemporary audience might have viewed this event.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- Why might Thucydides include this natural event in his primarily military and political history? What does this tell us about his conception of historical completeness?
- How does Thucydides' matter-of-fact treatment of the volcanic eruption differ from how other ancient authors might have interpreted such events?
- What can we infer about Greek knowledge of geological phenomena from the precise chronological records of Etna's eruptions?
- How does Thucydides' self-identification as 'the historian' in this passage reflect his understanding of his role and methodology?