Today's Passage
This passage describes the dramatic conclusion of the Pylos campaign (425 BCE), where Athenian forces trapped Spartan hoplites on the island of Sphacteria.
Crawley Translation (1910)
The Lacedaemonians hearing this offer, most of them lowered their shields and waved their hands to show that they accepted it. Hostilities now ceased, and a parley was held between Cleon and Demosthenes and Styphon, son of Pharax, on the other side; since Epitadas, the first of the previous commanders, had been killed, and Hippagretas, the next in command, left for dead among the slain, though still alive, and thus the command had devolved upon Styphon according to the law, in case of anything happening to his superiors. Styphon and his companions said they wished to send a herald to the Lacedaemonians on the mainland, to know what they were to do. The Athenians would not let any of them go, but themselves called for heralds from the mainland, and after questions had been carried backwards and forwards two or three times, the last man that passed over from the Lacedaemonians on the continent brought this message: “The Lacedaemonians bid you to decide for yourselves so long as you do nothing dishonourable”; upon which after consulting together they surrendered themselves and their arms. The Athenians, after guarding them that day and night, the next morning set up a trophy in the island, and got ready to sail, giving their prisoners in batches to be guarded by the captains of the galleys; and the Lacedaemonians sent a herald and took up their dead. The number of the killed and prisoners taken in the island was as follows: four hundred and twenty heavy infantry had passed over; three hundred all but eight were taken alive to Athens; the rest were killed. About a hundred and twenty of the prisoners were Spartans. The Athenian loss was small, the battle not having been fought at close quarters.
The blockade in all, counting from the fight at sea to the battle in the island, had lasted seventy-two days. For twenty of these, during the absence of the envoys sent to treat for peace, the men had provisions given them, for the rest they were fed by the smugglers. Corn and other victual was found in the island; the commander Epitadas having kept the men upon half rations. The Athenians and Peloponnesians now each withdrew their forces from Pylos, and went home, and crazy as Cleon’s promise was, he fulfilled it, by bringing the men to Athens within the twenty days as he had pledged himself to do.
Modern Translation
When the Spartans heard this proposal, most of them lowered their shields and raised their hands to signal their acceptance. Fighting immediately stopped, and negotiations began between Cleon and Demosthenes on one side, and Styphon, son of Pharax, on the other. Styphon now held command because Epitadas, the original commander, had been killed, and Hippagretas, his second-in-command, lay wounded among the dead bodies, though he was actually still alive. According to Spartan military law, command had therefore passed to Styphon. He and his officers requested permission to send a messenger to the Spartan forces on the mainland to ask for instructions. The Athenians refused to let any Spartans leave the island, but instead summoned messengers from the mainland themselves. After several exchanges of messages back and forth, the final Spartan envoy from the mainland delivered this instruction: 'The Spartans authorize you to make your own decision, provided you do nothing dishonorable.' After deliberating among themselves, the Spartans surrendered both themselves and their weapons. The Athenians kept them under guard through that day and night. The following morning, they erected a victory monument on the island and prepared to depart, distributing the prisoners among the ship captains for safekeeping. The Spartans sent a herald to collect their dead. The casualty figures for the island battle were as follows: of the 420 hoplites who had crossed to the island, 292 were captured alive and sent to Athens, while the remainder were killed. Approximately 120 of the prisoners were full Spartan citizens. Athenian casualties were minimal, since the fighting had not been at close quarters. The entire blockade, from the initial naval engagement to the final battle on the island, lasted seventy-two days. During the twenty days when Spartan envoys were negotiating for peace, the trapped men received regular provisions; for the remaining time, they survived on supplies brought by blockade runners. The island still contained stores of grain and other food when captured, as the commander Epitadas had maintained the garrison on half rations. Both the Athenian and Peloponnesian forces then withdrew from Pylos and returned to their respective homes. And despite how absurd Cleon's boast had seemed, he actually fulfilled it, delivering the Spartan prisoners to Athens within the twenty days he had promised.
Historical Context
This passage describes the dramatic conclusion of the Pylos campaign (425 BCE), where Athenian forces trapped Spartan hoplites on the island of Sphacteria. The surrender of nearly 300 Spartans, including 120 Spartiates (full citizens), shocked the Greek world, as Spartans were expected to die rather than surrender. Cleon, the Athenian demagogue who had opposed peace negotiations, had boastfully promised to capture or kill the Spartans within twenty days. His success, achieved alongside the general Demosthenes, significantly enhanced Athens' position in the war and provided valuable hostages. This event marked a turning point in the Peloponnesian War, demonstrating Spartan vulnerability and bolstering Athenian confidence. The captured Spartiates became crucial bargaining chips in subsequent negotiations.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Spartan Military Culture
The instruction to 'do nothing dishonorable' reflects Spartan military values, yet their surrender contradicted the traditional expectation that Spartans should die rather than surrender. This event shattered the myth of Spartan invincibility and had profound psychological impact throughout Greece.
Learn more →Chain of Command
The passage illustrates the formal Spartan military hierarchy, with command automatically devolving to Styphon after his superiors' deaths. This systematic approach to leadership succession ensured continuity even in crisis situations, reflecting Sparta's militaristic society.
Learn more →Cleon's Political Victory
Cleon's successful fulfillment of his seemingly impossible promise transformed him from a ridiculed demagogue to a triumphant war leader. This victory validated his aggressive war policy and strengthened the radical democratic faction in Athens.
Learn more →Greek Trophy Monuments
The erection of a trophy (tropaion) on the battlefield was standard Greek practice after victory. These monuments, typically made from captured arms and armor, marked the point where the enemy turned to flee and served as religious dedications.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Nicias (7.3-4)
Plutarch describes the shock throughout Greece at the Spartan surrender, noting that it contradicted everything believed about Spartan character and military ethics.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.61-63)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of the Pylos campaign and Spartan surrender, offering additional details about the negotiations and the impact on Spartan morale.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.2.18)
Xenophon later references how the Sphacteria prisoners remained a crucial factor in Athenian-Spartan negotiations, showing the long-term significance of this surrender.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- Why did the Spartans choose to surrender rather than fight to the death, and what does this reveal about the gap between Spartan ideology and practical decision-making?
- How does Thucydides' characterization of Cleon's promise as 'crazy' yet fulfilled reflect on the role of chance versus skill in military success?
- What does the Spartan instruction to 'do nothing dishonorable' suggest about how they rationalized surrender within their warrior culture?
- How might this unexpected Athenian victory have affected the strategic calculations of both sides in the larger war?