Today's Passage
This passage describes the defense preparations at Pylos in 425 BCE during a critical phase of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Meanwhile Demosthenes, seeing the Lacedaemonians about to attack him by sea and land at once, himself was not idle. He drew up under the fortification and enclosed in a stockade the galleys remaining to him of those which had been left him, arming the sailors taken out of them with poor shields made most of them of osier, it being impossible to procure arms in such a desert place, and even these having been obtained from a thirty-oared Messenian privateer and a boat belonging to some Messenians who happened to have come to them. Among these Messenians were forty heavy infantry, whom he made use of with the rest. Posting most of his men, unarmed and armed, upon the best fortified and strong points of the place towards the interior, with orders to repel any attack of the land forces, he picked sixty heavy infantry and a few archers from his whole force, and with these went outside the wall down to the sea, where he thought that the enemy would most likely attempt to land. Although the ground was difficult and rocky, looking towards the open sea, the fact that this was the weakest part of the wall would, he thought, encourage their ardour, as the Athenians, confident in their naval superiority, had here paid little attention to their defences, and the enemy if he could force a landing might feel secure of taking the place. At this point, accordingly, going down to the water’s edge, he posted his heavy infantry to prevent, if possible, a landing, and encouraged them in the following terms:
Modern Translation
Meanwhile, Demosthenes saw that the Spartans were preparing to attack him simultaneously by both sea and land, and he too made his preparations. He hauled up the remaining ships from those that had been left with him and positioned them beneath the fortification, surrounding them with a protective stockade. He armed the sailors from these vessels with makeshift shields, most fashioned from wicker, since it was impossible to obtain proper weapons in such an isolated location. Even these poor substitutes had been acquired from a thirty-oared Messenian privateer and a small boat belonging to some Messenians who had happened to arrive. Among these Messenians were forty hoplites, whom he incorporated into his forces. He stationed the majority of his troops, both armed and unarmed, at the strongest and best-fortified positions facing inland, with orders to resist any assault from the land forces. From his entire force, he selected sixty hoplites and a few archers, and led them outside the fortification down to the shore, where he anticipated the enemy would most likely attempt their landing. Though the terrain was rough and rocky, facing the open sea, he believed the enemy would be drawn to this spot precisely because it was the weakest section of the wall. The Athenians, overconfident in their naval supremacy, had neglected the defenses here, and Demosthenes calculated that the enemy would believe that forcing a landing at this point would guarantee the capture of the position. Here, then, at the water's edge, he deployed his hoplites to prevent a landing if possible, and addressed them with these encouraging words:
Historical Context
This passage describes the defense preparations at Pylos in 425 BCE during a critical phase of the Peloponnesian War. Demosthenes, the Athenian general, had fortified Pylos on the Messenian coast, threatening Spartan territory. The Spartans, alarmed by this strategic foothold near their homeland and the potential for inciting helot revolts, mobilized both naval and land forces to recapture the position. Demosthenes, with limited resources and improvised equipment, must defend against overwhelming odds. His decision to defend the weakest point shows tactical brilliance - anticipating enemy psychology and turning apparent weakness into strength. This episode would lead to the stunning Athenian victory at Pylos and the subsequent blockade of Spartan hoplites on Sphacteria, fundamentally altering the war's dynamics.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Messenian Helots
The Messenians mentioned here were likely exiles or descendants of the helot population enslaved by Sparta. Their presence at Pylos was significant, as Athenian occupation of this Messenian territory threatened to inspire helot revolts, Sparta's greatest fear. The fortification at Pylos became a beacon for helot resistance.
Learn more →Greek Naval Warfare
The mention of a thirty-oared vessel illustrates the variety of Greek warships. While triremes (with 170 rowers) dominated major naval battles, smaller vessels like triaconters (30 oars) served for raiding, reconnaissance, and transport. The improvised nature of Demosthenes' defense highlights the logistical challenges of ancient warfare.
Learn more →Hoplite Equipment
The makeshift osier (wicker) shields contrast sharply with the bronze-faced wooden aspis normally carried by hoplites. This improvisation demonstrates both the importance of proper equipment in Greek warfare and Demosthenes' resourcefulness in desperate circumstances. Standard hoplite shields were essential for the phalanx formation.
Learn more →Psychological Warfare
Demosthenes' decision to defend the weakest point reveals sophisticated understanding of enemy psychology. He anticipated that the Spartans would attack where success seemed most likely, turning their confidence into a tactical disadvantage. This exemplifies the mental aspects of ancient Greek warfare beyond mere physical combat.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.61-63)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of the Pylos campaign, though less detailed than Thucydides. He emphasizes the Spartan panic at having Athenians so close to Messenia and the improvised nature of the Athenian fortification.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (7.1-4)
Plutarch briefly mentions the Pylos affair while discussing Nicias' opposition to Cleon. He provides insight into the Athenian political context surrounding the campaign and its aftermath.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.2.18)
Though Xenophon doesn't describe Pylos directly, he mentions its continued importance as an Athenian base for raiding Laconia, showing the long-term strategic impact of Demosthenes' fortification.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Demosthenes' use of improvised equipment and unconventional tactics challenge traditional Greek notions of hoplite warfare and military honor?
- What does this passage reveal about the importance of psychological insight in military leadership? How does Demosthenes anticipate and exploit Spartan thinking?
- How might the presence of Messenian exiles have affected both Athenian morale and Spartan anxiety during this campaign?
- In what ways does this episode illustrate the relationship between naval power and land operations in ancient Greek warfare?