Today's Passage
This passage occurs during the Athenian campaign in Sicily (424 BCE), where Brasidas, the exceptional Spartan general, addresses Peloponnesian troops who have been abandoned by their local allies before a battle against Illyrian forces.
Crawley Translation (1910)
“Peloponnesians, if I did not suspect you of being dismayed at being left alone to sustain the attack of a numerous and barbarian enemy, I should just have said a few words to you as usual without further explanation. As it is, in the face of the desertion of our friends and the numbers of the enemy, I have some advice and information to offer, which, brief as they must be, will, I hope, suffice for the more important points. The bravery that you habitually display in war does not depend on your having allies at your side in this or that encounter, but on your native courage; nor have numbers any terrors for citizens of states like yours, in which the many do not rule the few, but rather the few the many, owing their position to nothing else than to superiority in the field. Inexperience now makes you afraid of barbarians; and yet the trial of strength which you had with the Macedonians among them, and my own judgment, confirmed by what I hear from others, should be enough to satisfy you that they will not prove formidable. Where an enemy seems strong but is really weak, a true knowledge of the facts makes his adversary the bolder, just as a serious antagonist is encountered most confidently by those who do not know him. Thus the present enemy might terrify an inexperienced imagination; they are formidable in outward bulk, their loud yelling is unbearable, and the brandishing of their weapons in the air has a threatening appearance. But when it comes to real fighting with an opponent who stands his ground, they are not what they seemed; they have no regular order that they should be ashamed of deserting their positions when hard pressed; flight and attack are with them equally honourable, and afford no test of courage; their independent mode of fighting never leaving any one who wants to run away without a fair excuse for so doing. In short, they think frightening you at a secure distance a surer game than meeting you hand to hand; otherwise they would have done the one and not the other. You can thus plainly see that the terrors with which they were at first invested are in fact trifling enough, though to the eye and ear very prominent. Stand your ground therefore when they advance, and again wait your opportunity to retire in good order, and you will reach a place of safety all the sooner, and will know for ever afterwards that rabble such as these, to those who sustain their first attack, do but show off their courage by threats of the terrible things that they are going to do, at a distance, but with those who give way to them are quick enough to display their heroism in pursuit when they can do so without danger.”
Modern Translation
Fellow Peloponnesians, if I didn't sense that you're unnerved by being left to face this massive barbarian force on your own, I would simply offer you the usual brief encouragement without elaboration. But given that our allies have abandoned us and the enemy vastly outnumbers us, I feel compelled to share both advice and crucial information. Though my words must be brief, I trust they'll address the most critical points. The courage you consistently demonstrate in battle doesn't depend on having allies beside you in any particular engagement—it springs from your inherent valor. Numbers shouldn't frighten men from states like yours, where political power doesn't rest with the masses ruling the few, but rather with the few governing the many, a position earned solely through military excellence. Your inexperience makes you fear these barbarians, yet your previous clash with the Macedonians—who are barbarians themselves—combined with my own assessment and intelligence from others, should convince you they're not as fearsome as they appear. When an enemy appears strong but is actually weak, accurate knowledge emboldens his opponent, just as those ignorant of a truly dangerous foe approach him with misplaced confidence. These current enemies might intimidate the inexperienced observer: they appear imposing in their physical size, their war cries are deafening, and their weapon-waving seems menacing. But when they face an opponent who holds his ground in actual combat, they reveal their true nature. They maintain no disciplined formation they'd be ashamed to abandon under pressure; they consider retreat and advance equally acceptable, which reveals nothing about their courage; their chaotic fighting style always provides anyone seeking escape with a convenient excuse. Simply put, they believe intimidating you from a safe distance is more effective than engaging you directly—otherwise they would have attacked rather than posturing. You can clearly see that their initially terrifying appearance amounts to very little, though it certainly impresses the eyes and ears. Hold your position when they charge, then seize the right moment to withdraw in good order. You'll reach safety more quickly and learn a lasting lesson: such rabbles merely threaten terrible deeds from afar against those who withstand their initial assault, but eagerly display their 'courage' in pursuing those who flee—when they can do so without risk to themselves.
Historical Context
This passage occurs during the Athenian campaign in Sicily (424 BCE), where Brasidas, the exceptional Spartan general, addresses Peloponnesian troops who have been abandoned by their local allies before a battle against Illyrian forces. The Peloponnesians find themselves outnumbered and facing 'barbarian' opponents whose fighting style differs drastically from Greek hoplite warfare. Brasidas's speech exemplifies classical military rhetoric, combining psychological insight with tactical advice. He contrasts Greek discipline and courage with barbarian disorder and bravado, reinforcing cultural stereotypes while bolstering morale. This moment demonstrates Brasidas's leadership abilities that made him one of Sparta's most successful commanders during the Archidamian War, and reflects broader Greek attitudes toward non-Greek peoples and their military capabilities.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Greek vs Barbarian Military Tactics
Greeks distinguished their disciplined hoplite phalanx warfare from the perceived chaotic fighting styles of non-Greeks. The phalanx required maintaining formation and collective courage, while 'barbarian' forces often relied on individual combat, psychological warfare through noise and display, and hit-and-run tactics.
Learn more →Oligarchy vs Democracy
Brasidas's reference to states where 'the few rule the many' reflects the Spartan oligarchic system, contrasted with Athenian democracy. He connects military prowess with political legitimacy, arguing that battlefield superiority justifies oligarchic rule—a common Spartan ideological position.
Learn more →Brasidas as Military Commander
Brasidas was arguably Sparta's most innovative and successful general during the Peloponnesian War. Known for his diplomatic skills, strategic thinking, and ability to inspire troops, he achieved significant victories in Thrace and challenged Athenian power in the northern Aegean.
Learn more →Ancient Military Psychology
This speech demonstrates sophisticated understanding of combat psychology. Brasidas addresses fear, analyzes enemy intimidation tactics, and builds confidence through rational analysis—showing how ancient commanders understood that battles were often won or lost before physical combat began.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 7.210-211)
Describes similar Greek attitudes toward Persian forces before Thermopylae, emphasizing how barbarian numbers and noise contrast with Greek discipline and courage. Like Brasidas, speakers dismiss barbarian military effectiveness despite numerical superiority.
Read passage →Xenophon: Anabasis (Book 3.2.15-19)
Xenophon's speech to the Ten Thousand parallels Brasidas's rhetoric, encouraging Greek mercenaries by contrasting their discipline with Persian disorder, and arguing that Greek military virtue overcomes barbarian numbers.
Read passage →Polybius: Histories (Book 2.65-69)
Discusses Gallic warfare tactics, emphasizing their initial ferocity but lack of endurance—similar to Brasidas's characterization of barbarians as impressive in appearance but weak in sustained combat.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Brasidas's characterization of 'barbarian' warfare reflect Greek cultural biases, and what might this tell us about the reliability of Greek historical accounts of non-Greek peoples?
- What specific psychological techniques does Brasidas employ to transform his soldiers' fear into confidence? How do these compare to modern military leadership principles?
- How does Brasidas connect military excellence with political legitimacy? What does this reveal about Spartan ideology versus Athenian democratic values?
- To what extent might Brasidas's analysis of barbarian tactics be accurate versus propagandistic? How can we evaluate such claims in ancient sources?