Today's Passage
This passage describes the climactic battle on Sphacteria island in 425 BCE, where an isolated Spartan garrison had been trapped by Athenian forces.
Crawley Translation (1910)
At last, after many had been already wounded in the confined space in which they were fighting, they formed in close order and retired on the fort at the end of the island, which was not far off, and to their friends who held it. The moment they gave way, the light troops became bolder and pressed upon them, shouting louder than ever, and killed as many as they came up with in their retreat, but most of the Lacedaemonians made good their escape to the fort, and with the garrison in it ranged themselves all along its whole extent to repulse the enemy wherever it was assailable. The Athenians pursuing, unable to surround and hem them in, owing to the strength of the ground, attacked them in front and tried to storm the position. For a long time, indeed for most of the day, both sides held out against all the torments of the battle, thirst, and sun, the one endeavouring to drive the enemy from the high ground, the other to maintain himself upon it, it being now more easy for the Lacedaemonians to defend themselves than before, as they could not be surrounded on the flanks.
The struggle began to seem endless, when the commander of the Messenians came to Cleon and Demosthenes, and told them that they were losing their labour: but if they would give him some archers and light troops to go round on the enemy’s rear by a way he would undertake to find, he thought he could force the approach. Upon receiving what he asked for, he started from a point out of sight in order not to be seen by the enemy, and creeping on wherever the precipices of the island permitted, and where the Lacedaemonians, trusting to the strength of the ground, kept no guard, succeeded after the greatest difficulty in getting round without their seeing him, and suddenly appeared on the high ground in their rear, to the dismay of the surprised enemy and the still greater joy of his expectant friends. The Lacedaemonians thus placed between two fires, and in the same dilemma, to compare small things with great, as at Thermopylae, where the defenders were cut off through the Persians getting round by the path, being now attacked in front and behind, began to give way, and overcome by the odds against them and exhausted from want of food, retreated.
The Athenians were already masters of the approaches when Cleon and Demosthenes perceiving that, if the enemy gave way a single step further, they would be destroyed by their soldiery, put a stop to the battle and held their men back; wishing to take the Lacedaemonians alive to Athens, and hoping that their stubbornness might relax on hearing the offer of terms, and that they might surrender and yield to the present overwhelming danger. Proclamation was accordingly made, to know if they would surrender themselves and their arms to the Athenians to be dealt at their discretion.
Modern Translation
Finally, after many had already been wounded in the narrow space where they were fighting, the Spartans formed into close ranks and withdrew to the fortification at the island's end, which was nearby, joining their comrades who held that position. The instant they retreated, the light-armed troops grew more confident and pursued them, shouting even more loudly, killing as many stragglers as they could overtake during the withdrawal. However, most of the Spartans reached the fort safely and, together with its garrison, positioned themselves along the entire perimeter to resist any assault. The pursuing Athenians, unable to encircle them due to the terrain's natural defenses, launched frontal attacks attempting to storm the position. For an extended period—indeed, for most of the day—both forces endured all the agonies of battle: thirst, the burning sun, with one side striving to dislodge the enemy from the heights while the other fought to maintain their position. The Spartans found it easier to defend themselves now, as their flanks were protected from encirclement.
The battle seemed destined to continue indefinitely when the Messenian commander approached Cleon and Demosthenes, declaring that their efforts were futile. However, if they would provide him with archers and light troops to circle behind the enemy by a route he would find, he believed he could force a breakthrough. Receiving the requested forces, he departed from a concealed position to avoid enemy detection, then crept along wherever the island's cliffs allowed passage. The Spartans, confident in their position's natural strength, had posted no guards there. After tremendous difficulty, he managed to circle around undetected and suddenly appeared on the high ground behind them, throwing the shocked enemy into dismay while bringing immense relief to his waiting allies. The Spartans, now caught between two forces, found themselves in a predicament comparable—if one may compare small events with great—to Thermopylae, where the defenders were destroyed after the Persians discovered the mountain path. Now attacked from front and rear, they began to falter, overwhelmed by superior numbers and weakened by lack of food, and started to retreat.
The Athenians had already secured the approaches when Cleon and Demosthenes, recognizing that any further enemy retreat would result in their complete annihilation by the soldiers, halted the fighting and restrained their men. They wished to capture the Spartans alive for Athens, hoping that their determination might weaken upon hearing terms, and that they might surrender when faced with such overwhelming peril. A herald therefore proclaimed an offer, asking whether they would surrender themselves and their weapons to the Athenians, to be dealt with at Athenian discretion.
Historical Context
This passage describes the climactic battle on Sphacteria island in 425 BCE, where an isolated Spartan garrison had been trapped by Athenian forces. The Spartans, cut off from supplies and reinforcements, made a desperate last stand at a fortification on the island's end. The turning point came when a Messenian commander executed a flanking maneuver reminiscent of Thermopylae, placing the Spartans between two forces. Cleon and Demosthenes, the Athenian commanders, recognized the strategic value of capturing Spartans alive rather than annihilating them, as Spartan prisoners would provide unprecedented leverage in negotiations. This battle marked a significant shift in the Peloponnesian War, challenging Sparta's reputation for invincibility and demonstrating Athens' tactical innovation.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Spartan Military Tradition
The comparison to Thermopylae is deeply ironic, as Spartans now faced the same tactical situation that destroyed their ancestors. This reversal highlights how Spartan military prowess, while formidable, was not invincible when faced with superior tactics and numbers.
Learn more →Messenian Involvement
The Messenians, recently liberated from Spartan control and settled at Naupactus by Athens, had particular motivation to fight against their former masters. Their knowledge of Spartan tactics and terrain proved crucial in this victory.
Learn more →Ancient Greek Siege Warfare
The battle demonstrates typical Greek siege tactics: frontal assault, flanking maneuvers, and the importance of terrain. The Athenians' use of light troops and archers shows the evolution of combined-arms tactics beyond traditional hoplite warfare.
Learn more →Prisoner Exchange in Greek Warfare
Taking enemies alive for ransom or political leverage was common in Greek warfare. The capture of Spartan citizens was particularly valuable given Sparta's small citizen population and their cultural emphasis on death before surrender.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Nicias (7.3-4)
Plutarch describes the shock throughout Greece when Spartans surrendered at Sphacteria, contradicting their reputation for choosing death over capture.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.61-63)
Provides additional details about the siege and emphasizes the psychological impact of Spartan surrender on Greek perceptions of Spartan invincibility.
Read passage →Herodotus: Histories (7.223-225)
The original account of Thermopylae that Thucydides references, showing how the Persians outflanked the Spartans using a mountain path, creating the tactical parallel.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides' comparison to Thermopylae function both as military analysis and as commentary on Spartan identity?
- What does the Athenian decision to take prisoners rather than annihilate the enemy reveal about the strategic thinking in the Peloponnesian War?
- How does this passage illustrate the evolution of Greek warfare beyond traditional hoplite combat?
- What role does terrain play in this battle, and how does it reflect broader themes about human adaptation to circumstances in Thucydides?