Today's Passage
This passage records the final clauses of the Peace of Nicias (421 BCE), which temporarily ended the first phase of the Peloponnesian War, known as the Archidamian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
7. The Lacedaemonians and their allies shall in like manner give back any of the Athenians or their allies that they may have in their hands.
8. In the case of Scione, Torone, and Sermylium, and any other cities that the Athenians may have, the Athenians may adopt such measures as they please.
9. The Athenians shall take an oath to the Lacedaemonians and their allies, city by city. Every man shall swear by the most binding oath of his country, seventeen from each city. The oath shall be as follows; “I will abide by this agreement and treaty honestly and without deceit.” In the same way an oath shall be taken by the Lacedaemonians and their allies to the Athenians: and the oath shall be renewed annually by both parties. Pillars shall be erected at Olympia, Pythia, the Isthmus, at Athens in the Acropolis, and at Lacedaemon in the temple at Amyclae.
10. If anything be forgotten, whatever it be, and on whatever point, it shall be consistent with their oath for both parties, the Athenians and Lacedaemonians, to alter it, according to their discretion.
The treaty begins from the ephoralty of Pleistolas in Lacedaemon, on the 27th day of the month of Artemisium, and from the archonship, of Alcaeus at Athens, on the 25th day of the month of Elaphebolion. Those who took the oath and poured the libations for the Lacedaemonians were Pleistoanax, Agis, Pleistolas, Damagetis, Chionis, Metagenes, Acanthus, Daithus, Ischagoras, Philocharidas, Zeuxidas, Antippus, Tellis, Alcinadas, Empedias, Menas, and Laphilus: for the Athenians, Lampon, Isthmonicus, Nicias, Laches, Euthydemus, Procles, Pythodorus, Hagnon, Myrtilus, Thrasycles, Theagenes, Aristocrates, Iolcius, Timocrates, Leon, Lamachus, and Demosthenes.
This treaty was made in the spring, just at the end of winter, directly after the city festival of Dionysus, just ten years, with the difference of a few days, from the first invasion of Attica and the commencement of this war. This must be calculated by the seasons rather than by trusting to the enumeration of the names of the several magistrates or offices of honour that are used to mark past events. Accuracy is impossible where an event may have occurred in the beginning, or middle, or at any period in their tenure of office. But by computing by summers and winters, the method adopted in this history, it will be found that, each of these amounting to half a year, there were ten summers and as many winters contained in this first war.
Modern Translation
7. The Spartans and their allies shall similarly return any Athenians or their allies whom they hold captive.
8. Regarding Scione, Torone, Sermylium, and any other cities in Athenian possession, Athens shall be free to determine their fate as it sees fit.
9. The Athenians shall swear an oath to the Spartans and their allies, with each city participating separately. Seventeen representatives from each city shall take the most solemn oath recognized by their homeland. The oath shall state: "I will honor this agreement and treaty faithfully and without deception." The Spartans and their allies shall swear the same oath to the Athenians. Both parties shall renew these oaths annually. Commemorative pillars shall be erected at Olympia, Delphi, the Isthmus of Corinth, on the Athenian Acropolis, and at the temple of Apollo at Amyclae near Sparta.
10. Should any matter be overlooked, regardless of its nature or scope, both parties—the Athenians and Spartans—may, in accordance with their oath, modify the agreement as they jointly determine appropriate.
The treaty takes effect from Pleistolas's ephorate in Sparta, on the 27th of Artemisium, and from Alcaeus's archonship in Athens, on the 25th of Elaphebolion. Those who swore the oath and performed the ritual libations for Sparta were: Pleistoanax, Agis, Pleistolas, Damagetus, Chionis, Metagenes, Acanthus, Daïthus, Ischagoras, Philocharidas, Zeuxidas, Antippus, Tellis, Alcinadas, Empedias, Menas, and Laphilus. For Athens: Lampon, Isthmionicus, Nicias, Laches, Euthydemus, Procles, Pythodorus, Hagnon, Myrtilus, Thrasycles, Theagenes, Aristocrates, Iolcius, Timocrates, Leon, Lamachus, and Demosthenes.
This treaty was concluded in spring, at winter's end, immediately following the City Dionysia festival—precisely ten years, give or take a few days, after the initial invasion of Attica that began this war. One must calculate by seasons rather than relying on lists of magistrates or honorary officials used to date past events. Such methods lack precision, since events might occur at any point during an official's tenure—beginning, middle, or end. However, by reckoning in summers and winters, as this history does, with each season representing half a year, one finds that this first phase of the war encompassed exactly ten summers and ten winters.
Historical Context
This passage records the final clauses of the Peace of Nicias (421 BCE), which temporarily ended the first phase of the Peloponnesian War, known as the Archidamian War. After ten years of inconclusive fighting, both Athens and Sparta were exhausted and agreed to a fifty-year peace treaty. The passage details prisoner exchanges, the fate of contested cities, oath-taking procedures, and the treaty's ratification process. Thucydides emphasizes his chronological precision, noting the exact duration of the war and defending his seasonal dating system against traditional methods using magistrate lists. The treaty proved fragile, as neither side fully honored its terms, and hostilities resumed within a few years. The detailed list of oath-takers includes prominent figures like Nicias (the treaty's architect) and Lamachus for Athens, and King Pleistoanax for Sparta.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Peace of Nicias
The Peace of Nicias (421 BCE) was a fifty-year truce between Athens and Sparta, negotiated by the Athenian general Nicias. Despite its ambitious duration, the treaty failed to resolve underlying tensions and was effectively broken within six years. The agreement attempted to restore the pre-war status quo but left many allies dissatisfied.
Learn more →Greek Oath-Taking Rituals
Ancient Greek oaths were sacred acts involving gods as witnesses and often accompanied by ritual libations. Breaking an oath invited divine punishment. The most binding oaths varied by city-state but typically invoked local deities. The public nature and religious solemnity of these ceremonies were meant to ensure compliance.
Learn more →Thucydidean Chronology
Thucydides pioneered a systematic chronological method based on natural seasons rather than varying local magistracies. His summer/winter division provided a universal framework comprehensible across Greek city-states. This innovation reflects his scientific approach to history and desire for precision in recording events.
Learn more →Scione and Torone
These were strategic cities in the Chalcidice that had revolted from Athens during the war. Their fate was contentious because they had surrendered to Brasidas after the armistice of 423 BCE. Athens ultimately executed the adult males of Scione, demonstrating the harsh realities behind diplomatic language about cities' fates.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Nicias (9.1-4)
Plutarch provides biographical context for Nicias's role in negotiating this peace, describing his motivations and the political pressures he faced. He emphasizes Nicias's desire to preserve his military reputation and avoid further risky campaigns.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.75-76)
Diodorus offers a condensed account of the Peace of Nicias, focusing on the war-weariness of both sides. His version emphasizes the prisoner exchange and provides slightly different details about the treaty's terms.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.1)
Though Xenophon begins his history where Thucydides breaks off, he refers back to earlier treaties and their violations, providing perspective on how Greeks viewed the failure of diplomatic agreements like the Peace of Nicias.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- Why does Thucydides emphasize his chronological method so strongly at this pivotal moment? What does this reveal about his approach to historical truth?
- The treaty gives Athens complete discretion over certain cities' fates. How does this clause reflect the power dynamics between Athens and Sparta at this point in the war?
- What is the significance of erecting pillars at religious sites across Greece? How might this practice compare to modern treaty ratification?
- Given that seventeen representatives from each city swore the oath, what does this tell us about Greek political structures and the challenge of maintaining alliance unity?