Today's Passage
This passage describes a series of naval skirmishes in 425 BCE near the Strait of Messina during the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
In this strait the Syracusans and their allies were compelled to fight, late in the day, about the passage of a boat, putting out with rather more than thirty ships against sixteen Athenian and eight Rhegian vessels. Defeated by the Athenians they hastily set off, each for himself, to their own stations at Messina and Rhegium, with the loss of one ship; night coming on before the battle was finished. After this the Locrians retired from the Rhegian territory, and the ships of the Syracusans and their allies united and came to anchor at Cape Pelorus, in the territory of Messina, where their land forces joined them. Here the Athenians and Rhegians sailed up, and seeing the ships unmanned, made an attack, in which they in their turn lost one vessel, which was caught by a grappling iron, the crew saving themselves by swimming. After this the Syracusans got on board their ships, and while they were being towed alongshore to Messina, were again attacked by the Athenians, but suddenly got out to sea and became the assailants, and caused them to lose another vessel. After thus holding their own in the voyage alongshore and in the engagement as above described, the Syracusans sailed on into the harbour of Messina.
Modern Translation
Finding themselves in this difficult position, the Syracusans and their allies were forced to engage in battle late in the day over control of a narrow passage, sending out slightly more than thirty ships against sixteen Athenian and eight Rhegian vessels. Defeated by the Athenians, they retreated in disorder, each ship making for its own base at either Messina or Rhegium, losing one vessel in the process; darkness fell before the engagement could reach a conclusion. Following this action, the Locrians withdrew from Rhegian territory, while the Syracusan fleet and their allies regrouped and anchored at Cape Pelorus in Messinian territory, where they were joined by their land forces. The Athenians and Rhegians sailed up and, observing that the enemy ships were unmanned, launched an attack. This time, however, they lost a vessel of their own when it was caught by a grappling hook, though the crew escaped by swimming to safety. The Syracusans then boarded their ships and, while being towed along the coast toward Messina, came under renewed Athenian attack. They suddenly put out to sea, turned the tables on their pursuers, and inflicted the loss of another Athenian ship. Having thus acquitted themselves creditably both in the coastal maneuver and in the naval engagement, the Syracusans proceeded to sail into Messina's harbor.
Historical Context
This passage describes a series of naval skirmishes in 425 BCE near the Strait of Messina during the Peloponnesian War. The engagement occurred as part of Athens' Sicilian operations, where they sought to establish influence and prevent Syracuse from dominating the region. The Athenians, allied with Rhegium, attempted to control the strategic waterways around northeastern Sicily. The Syracusans, as the leading power in Sicily, opposed Athenian expansion with support from other Sicilian cities. The tactical reversals described here—with both sides experiencing victories and losses—illustrate the fluid nature of naval warfare in confined waters. This minor engagement foreshadows the much larger Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE), where Athens would suffer catastrophic defeat. The passage demonstrates Thucydides' attention to tactical detail and his interest in how fortune can shift rapidly in war.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Naval Warfare
Ancient Greek naval battles often involved ramming tactics and boarding actions. The 'grappling iron' mentioned was a crucial boarding tool, allowing ships to catch and hold enemy vessels for hand-to-hand combat. Naval superiority was essential for controlling trade routes and projecting power across the Mediterranean.
Learn more →Syracuse
Syracuse was the most powerful Greek city in Sicily, founded by Corinthian colonists in 734 BCE. Its strategic location and naval strength made it Athens' primary rival in the western Mediterranean. The city's resistance to Athenian expansion would culminate in Athens' disastrous defeat during the Sicilian Expedition.
Learn more →Rhegium
Rhegium (modern Reggio Calabria) was a Greek city controlling the Italian side of the Strait of Messina. Its alliance with Athens was strategically vital for Athenian operations in Sicily, providing a base and naval support. The city's location made it a key player in controlling maritime traffic between Sicily and Italy.
Learn more →Cape Pelorus
Cape Pelorus (modern Capo Peloro) is the northeastern tip of Sicily, commanding the entrance to the Strait of Messina. This strategic promontory was crucial for controlling naval movements between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. Its proximity to Messina made it an ideal anchorage for fleets operating in the area.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.54)
Diodorus provides an account of Athenian operations in Sicily during this period, offering a Sicilian perspective that sometimes differs from Thucydides' Athenian-centered narrative, particularly regarding local alliances and motivations.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (Chapters 12-13)
Though focusing on the later Sicilian Expedition, Plutarch discusses the strategic importance of Sicily to Athens and provides context for understanding Athenian ambitions in the region that motivated these earlier operations.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 1.1.27-31)
Xenophon describes later naval engagements in the Peloponnesian War, showing the evolution of naval tactics and the continuing importance of controlling strategic waterways, similar to the actions described here.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does this passage illustrate the importance of timing and opportunity in ancient naval warfare? Consider the references to 'late in the day' and 'night coming on.'
- What does the rapid reversal of fortune in this engagement suggest about the nature of naval combat in confined waters? How might this differ from open-sea battles?
- Why might Thucydides include such detailed accounts of minor engagements? What do they contribute to his larger historical narrative?
- How does the geographic setting (the Strait of Messina) influence the tactical decisions and outcomes described in this passage?