Today's Passage
This passage describes Brasidas's successful march through Thessaly to reach Macedonia and Chalcidice in 424 BCE, a crucial turning point in the Archidamian War phase of the Peloponnesian conflict.
Crawley Translation (1910)
In this way Brasidas hurried through Thessaly before any one could be got ready to stop him, and reached Perdiccas and Chalcidice. The departure of the army from Peloponnese had been procured by the Thracian towns in revolt against Athens and by Perdiccas, alarmed at the successes of the Athenians. The Chalcidians thought that they would be the first objects of an Athenian expedition, not that the neighbouring towns which had not yet revolted did not also secretly join in the invitation; and Perdiccas also had his apprehensions on account of his old quarrels with the Athenians, although not openly at war with them, and above all wished to reduce Arrhabaeus, king of the Lyncestians. It had been less difficult for them to get an army to leave Peloponnese, because of the ill fortune of the Lacedaemonians at the present moment. The attacks of the Athenians upon Peloponnese, and in particular upon Laconia, might, it was hoped, be diverted most effectually by annoying them in return, and by sending an army to their allies, especially as they were willing to maintain it and asked for it to aid them in revolting. The Lacedaemonians were also glad to have an excuse for sending some of the Helots out of the country, for fear that the present aspect of affairs and the occupation of Pylos might encourage them to move. Indeed fear of their numbers and obstinacy even persuaded the Lacedaemonians to the action which I shall now relate, their policy at all times having been governed by the necessity of taking precautions against them. The Helots were invited by a proclamation to pick out those of their number who claimed to have most distinguished themselves against the enemy, in order that they might receive their freedom; the object being to test them, as it was thought that the first to claim their freedom would be the most high-spirited and the most apt to rebel. As many as two thousand were selected accordingly, who crowned themselves and went round the temples, rejoicing in their new freedom. The Spartans, however, soon afterwards did away with them, and no one ever knew how each of them perished. The Spartans now therefore gladly sent seven hundred as heavy infantry with Brasidas, who recruited the rest of his force by means of money in Peloponnese.
Modern Translation
In this manner, Brasidas rushed through Thessaly before anyone could organize to block his advance, and successfully reached Perdiccas and the Chalcidice region. The expedition from the Peloponnese had been arranged by the Thracian cities that had revolted from Athens and by Perdiccas, who was alarmed by recent Athenian victories. The Chalcidians believed they would be Athens' first target for retaliation, while neighboring cities that had not yet rebelled also secretly supported the invitation for Spartan aid. Perdiccas had his own concerns stemming from past disputes with Athens—though they were not officially at war—and particularly desired to subdue Arrhabaeus, the king of Lyncestis. The current misfortunes of Sparta made it easier to secure this expeditionary force. They hoped that Athenian attacks on the Peloponnese, especially on Laconia itself, could be most effectively countered by harassing Athens in return and sending troops to support their allies, particularly since these allies offered to fund the expedition and requested help for their revolt. The Spartans also welcomed the opportunity to remove some Helots from their territory, fearing that the current situation and Athens' occupation of Pylos might inspire them to rebellion. Indeed, Spartan fear of the Helots' numbers and potential for resistance led them to commit an act I must now describe, as their entire policy toward the Helots was always shaped by the need for security measures. They issued a proclamation inviting Helots to identify those among them who had shown the greatest valor against the enemy, promising freedom as a reward. This was actually a test, based on the assumption that those eager to claim freedom would be the most spirited and therefore most likely to rebel. About two thousand were selected; they wore garlands and processed around the temples, celebrating their liberation. However, the Spartans soon eliminated them all, and no one ever discovered how each met their death. Thus the Spartans were now eager to send seven hundred Helots as heavy infantry with Brasidas, who recruited additional forces in the Peloponnese using monetary incentives.
Historical Context
This passage describes Brasidas's successful march through Thessaly to reach Macedonia and Chalcidice in 424 BCE, a crucial turning point in the Archidamian War phase of the Peloponnesian conflict. The expedition was requested by Perdiccas II of Macedon and the Chalcidian cities revolting from Athens, who feared Athenian retaliation. The passage reveals Sparta's dual motivation: diverting Athenian attention from their homeland while simultaneously addressing internal security concerns about their Helot population. The shocking account of the Helot massacre demonstrates the brutal measures Sparta employed to maintain control over their enslaved population, particularly when external pressures made revolt more likely. This expedition would prove highly successful, with Brasidas capturing the strategically vital city of Amphipolis.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Helot System
The Helots were Sparta's enslaved population, primarily from Messenia, who worked the land and vastly outnumbered Spartan citizens. Their potential for revolt was a constant Spartan fear, leading to systematic oppression including the annual declaration of war against them and periodic cullings like the one described here.
Learn more →Brasidas
Brasidas was Sparta's most innovative and successful general during the Peloponnesian War. Unlike typical Spartan commanders, he was diplomatic, energetic, and willing to make promises of freedom to win allies. His northern campaign would capture Amphipolis and force Athens to seek peace.
Learn more →Pylos and Sphacteria
In 425 BCE, Athens had captured Pylos and trapped Spartan hoplites on nearby Sphacteria island. This Athenian stronghold in Messenia threatened to inspire Helot revolts, explaining Sparta's heightened security concerns and eagerness to strike back at Athens elsewhere.
Learn more →Chalcidice
The Chalcidice peninsula in northern Greece contained numerous Greek cities that were members of the Athenian Empire. Their revolt, beginning in 432 BCE, was a significant drain on Athenian resources and helped precipitate the larger war.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Lycurgus (28.3-4)
Plutarch describes the Krypteia, Sparta's secret police system targeting Helots, providing context for understanding systematic Spartan violence against their enslaved population.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.67-68)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of Brasidas's expedition to Thrace and the strategic motivations behind it, though with less detail about the Helot massacre.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.32)
Xenophon later describes similar Spartan anxieties about Helot revolts following their defeat at Leuctra, showing the persistent nature of this internal security concern.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the massacre of the 2,000 Helots reflect on Spartan values and their claims to moral superiority over Athens? What does this suggest about the relationship between internal oppression and external aggression?
- Why might Thucydides have included this shocking story about the Helot massacre? What does it reveal about his approach to historical truth and his view of Spartan society?
- How does Brasidas's expedition illustrate the interconnected nature of the Peloponnesian War, where events in one theater (Pylos) directly influenced actions in distant regions (Thrace)?
- What parallels might we draw between Sparta's treatment of the Helots and other historical or contemporary examples of states managing oppressed populations during wartime?