Today's Passage
This passage describes the negotiations leading to the Peace of Nicias in 421 BCE, a temporary halt to the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Now, however, after the Athenian defeat at Amphipolis, and the death of Cleon and Brasidas, who had been the two principal opponents of peace on either side—the latter from the success and honour which war gave him, the former because he thought that, if tranquillity were restored, his crimes would be more open to detection and his slanders less credited—the foremost candidates for power in either city, Pleistoanax, son of Pausanias, king of Lacedaemon, and Nicias, son of Niceratus, the most fortunate general of his time, each desired peace more ardently than ever. Nicias, while still happy and honoured, wished to secure his good fortune, to obtain a present release from trouble for himself and his countrymen, and hand down to posterity a name as an ever-successful statesman, and thought the way to do this was to keep out of danger and commit himself as little as possible to fortune, and that peace alone made this keeping out of danger possible. Pleistoanax, again, was assailed by his enemies for his restoration, and regularly held up by them to the prejudice of his countrymen, upon every reverse that befell them, as though his unjust restoration were the cause; the accusation being that he and his brother Aristocles had bribed the prophetess of Delphi to tell the Lacedaemonian deputations which successively arrived at the temple to bring home the seed of the demigod son of Zeus from abroad, else they would have to plough with a silver share. In this way, it was insisted, in time he had induced the Lacedaemonians in the nineteenth year of his exile to Lycaeum (whither he had gone when banished on suspicion of having been bribed to retreat from Attica, and had built half his house within the consecrated precinct of Zeus for fear of the Lacedaemonians), to restore him with the same dances and sacrifices with which they had instituted their kings upon the first settlement of Lacedaemon. The smart of this accusation, and the reflection that in peace no disaster could occur, and that when Lacedaemon had recovered her men there would be nothing for his enemies to take hold of (whereas, while war lasted, the highest station must always bear the scandal of everything that went wrong), made him ardently desire a settlement. Accordingly this winter was employed in conferences; and as spring rapidly approached, the Lacedaemonians sent round orders to the cities to prepare for a fortified occupation of Attica, and held this as a sword over the heads of the Athenians to induce them to listen to their overtures; and at last, after many claims had been urged on either side at the conferences a peace was agreed on upon the following basis. Each party was to restore its conquests, but Athens was to keep Nisaea; her demand for Plataea being met by the Thebans asserting that they had acquired the place not by force or treachery, but by the voluntary adhesion upon agreement of its citizens; and the same, according to the Athenian account, being the history of her acquisition of Nisaea. This arranged, the Lacedaemonians summoned their allies, and all voting for peace except the Boeotians, Corinthians, Eleans, and Megarians, who did not approve of these proceedings, they concluded the treaty and made peace, each of the contracting parties swearing to the following articles:
Modern Translation
After the Athenian defeat at Amphipolis and the deaths of Cleon and Brasidas—who had been the principal opponents of peace on each side (Brasidas because war brought him success and honor, Cleon because he believed that peacetime would expose his corrupt dealings and make his accusations against others less believable)—the leading political figures in both cities, Pleistoanax son of Pausanias, king of Sparta, and Nicias son of Niceratus, Athens' most successful general of the period, both pursued peace more eagerly than before. Nicias, still enjoying success and public esteem, wanted to preserve his good fortune, secure immediate relief from troubles for himself and his fellow citizens, and establish a lasting reputation as a perpetually successful statesman. He believed this could only be achieved by avoiding risks and minimizing his exposure to chance, which peace alone could ensure. Pleistoanax faced constant attacks from his enemies over his restoration to the throne. They blamed him whenever Sparta suffered any setback, claiming his illegitimate return to power was responsible. They accused him and his brother Aristocles of bribing the Delphic priestess to repeatedly tell Spartan delegations visiting the oracle to 'bring home the seed of Zeus's demigod son from abroad, or else plow with a silver plowshare.' Through this persistent pressure, they claimed, he had eventually persuaded the Spartans to recall him in the nineteenth year of his exile at Mount Lycaeum (where he had fled when banished on charges of accepting bribes to withdraw from Attica, and had built half his residence within Zeus's sacred precinct for protection from the Spartans). He was restored with the same ceremonial dances and sacrifices used to inaugurate Spartan kings since the city's founding. The sting of these accusations, combined with the realization that peace would prevent disasters and, once Sparta recovered her captured soldiers, would deprive his enemies of ammunition against him (whereas during war, leaders inevitably bore blame for all failures), made him desperately seek a settlement. Throughout the winter, negotiations continued. As spring approached, the Spartans ordered their allies to prepare for a fortified occupation of Attica, using this threat to pressure Athens into accepting their proposals. After extensive negotiations with numerous demands from both sides, they finally agreed to peace on these terms: each side would return its conquests, except Athens would retain Nisaea. When Athens demanded Plataea, the Thebans countered that they had acquired it not through force or deception but by voluntary agreement of its citizens—the same claim Athens made regarding Nisaea. With these terms settled, the Spartans summoned their allies. Despite opposition from the Boeotians, Corinthians, Eleans, and Megarians, who disapproved of the proceedings, the majority voted for peace. The treaty was concluded and peace established, with each contracting party swearing to the following terms:
Historical Context
This passage describes the negotiations leading to the Peace of Nicias in 421 BCE, a temporary halt to the Peloponnesian War. Following the Battle of Amphipolis (422 BCE), where both the hawkish Athenian demagogue Cleon and the brilliant Spartan general Brasidas died, moderate leaders on both sides seized the opportunity for peace. Nicias, Athens' leading general, and Pleistoanax, the restored Spartan king, both had personal and political reasons for seeking an end to hostilities. The negotiations reveal the complex dynamics of Greek interstate relations, with some Spartan allies refusing to support the treaty. This peace would prove temporary, lasting only until 415 BCE, but it represents a crucial turning point in the war's first phase.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Delphic Oracle
The oracle at Delphi was Greece's most prestigious religious institution. The accusation that Pleistoanax bribed the priestess illustrates both the oracle's political influence and the corruption that could compromise religious authority. The cryptic message about 'the seed of the demigod son of Zeus' likely refers to the Heraclid descent claimed by Spartan kings.
Learn more →Spartan Kingship
Sparta uniquely had two hereditary kings from separate royal houses. Pleistoanax's exile and restoration highlight the tensions between royal authority and aristocratic opposition. His building within Zeus's sanctuary at Mount Lycaeum shows how religious asylum could protect political exiles.
Learn more →Greek Peace Treaties
Ancient Greek peace treaties typically involved returning conquered territory and prisoners. The dispute over Plataea and Nisaea shows how claims of 'voluntary submission' versus 'conquest' could complicate negotiations. Such treaties required ratification by allied states, explaining why several Spartan allies rejected this agreement.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Nicias (Chapters 9-10)
Plutarch provides personal details about Nicias's cautious character and his motivations for seeking peace, emphasizing his superstitious nature and desire to preserve his reputation.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.75-76)
Diodorus offers a condensed account of the Peace of Nicias negotiations, providing additional details about the specific terms and the reactions of various Greek states.
Read passage →Aristophanes: Peace (Lines 1-300)
This comedy, produced in 421 BCE during the peace negotiations, reflects contemporary Athenian attitudes toward the war and the desire for peace among ordinary citizens.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How do the personal motivations of Nicias and Pleistoanax shape diplomatic outcomes? What does this suggest about the role of individual leaders in international relations?
- Compare the characterization of Cleon and Brasidas as obstacles to peace. How does Thucydides' portrayal reflect his views on war, honor, and political ambition?
- Why might some Spartan allies have rejected the peace treaty? What does this reveal about the nature of hegemonic alliances in ancient Greece?
- Analyze the role of religious institutions like Delphi in Greek politics. How does the accusation against Pleistoanax illustrate the intersection of religion and power?