Today's Passage
This passage occurs during the crucial Battle of Amphipolis (422 BCE), a pivotal engagement in the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
As soon as Brasidas saw the Athenians in motion he descended himself from Cerdylium and entered Amphipolis. He did not venture to go out in regular order against the Athenians: he mistrusted his strength, and thought it inadequate to the attempt; not in numbers—these were not so unequal—but in quality, the flower of the Athenian army being in the field, with the best of the Lemnians and Imbrians. He therefore prepared to assail them by stratagem. By showing the enemy the number of his troops, and the shifts which he had been put to to to arm them, he thought that he should have less chance of beating him than by not letting him have a sight of them, and thus learn how good a right he had to despise them. He accordingly picked out a hundred and fifty heavy infantry and, putting the rest under Clearidas, determined to attack suddenly before the Athenians retired; thinking that he should not have again such a chance of catching them alone, if their reinforcements were once allowed to come up; and so calling all his soldiers together in order to encourage them and explain his intention, spoke as follows:
Modern Translation
When Brasidas observed the Athenians advancing, he descended from Cerdylium and entered Amphipolis. He chose not to engage the Athenians in conventional battle formation, doubting his forces' capability—not their numbers, which were fairly comparable—but their quality, since Athens had deployed its elite troops alongside the finest soldiers from Lemnos and Imbros. Instead, he planned to attack through deception. He reasoned that revealing his troops' actual numbers and their makeshift equipment would diminish his chances of victory compared to keeping them hidden, thus preventing the enemy from accurately assessing their weakness. He selected one hundred and fifty hoplites, placed the remainder under Clearidas's command, and resolved to strike unexpectedly before the Athenians could withdraw. He believed this was his only opportunity to engage them while isolated, before any reinforcements could arrive. Gathering his soldiers to inspire them and outline his strategy, he addressed them as follows:
Historical Context
This passage occurs during the crucial Battle of Amphipolis (422 BCE), a pivotal engagement in the Peloponnesian War. Brasidas, Sparta's most successful general, defends the strategically vital city of Amphipolis against an Athenian force led by Cleon. The city controlled access to timber resources and the gold mines of Mount Pangaeus, making it essential for Athens' war effort. Brasidas had captured Amphipolis in 424 BCE, dealing Athens a severe blow. Now Cleon seeks to recapture it. Brasidas's tactical decision to avoid open battle and employ deception reflects the asymmetric nature of this conflict—while Athens fields superior troops, Brasidas must rely on cunning and local knowledge. This battle would prove decisive, resulting in the deaths of both commanders and paving the way for the Peace of Nicias.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Amphipolis
A strategic Greek city in Thrace, founded by Athens in 437 BCE. Its location controlled the crossing of the Strymon River and access to valuable timber and precious metals. Its loss to Brasidas in 424 BCE was a major blow to Athenian prestige and resources.
Learn more →Brasidas
Sparta's most innovative commander (d. 422 BCE), known for combining military skill with diplomacy. Unlike typical Spartan generals, he operated far from home with minimal support, liberating cities from Athenian control through persuasion as much as force.
Learn more →Hoplite Warfare
The dominant form of Greek warfare, featuring heavily armed infantry (hoplites) fighting in close formation (phalanx). Success depended on training, equipment quality, and unit cohesion—factors that gave Athens' professional forces significant advantages.
Learn more →Lemnos and Imbros
Strategic Aegean islands that served as Athenian cleruchies (military colonies). Their inhabitants were considered particularly reliable troops, combining colonial loyalty with military effectiveness, making them valuable assets in foreign campaigns.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.74)
Provides an alternative account of the Battle of Amphipolis, offering additional details about troop numbers and the tactical movements that Thucydides omits.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (6.1-2)
Discusses the aftermath of Amphipolis and how the deaths of both Brasidas and Cleon removed the main obstacles to peace negotiations.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (2.2.3)
References Amphipolis' strategic importance in later conflicts, demonstrating why both sides fought so desperately for control of the city.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Brasidas's emphasis on concealing his forces' weakness reflect broader themes about appearance versus reality in warfare and politics?
- What does this passage reveal about the importance of morale and perception in ancient Greek warfare compared to raw military strength?
- How might Brasidas's strategy here be compared to modern asymmetric warfare tactics?
- What does Thucydides's detailed attention to Brasidas's reasoning suggest about his views on rational calculation in military command?