Today's Passage
This passage records the formal treaty establishing the Quadruple Alliance of 420 BCE between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis.
Crawley Translation (1910)
1. It shall not be lawful to carry on war, either for the Argives, Eleans, Mantineans, and their allies, against the Athenians, or the allies in the Athenian empire: or for the Athenians and their allies against the Argives, Eleans, Mantineans, or their allies, in any way or means whatsoever.
The Athenians, Argives, Eleans, and Mantineans shall be allies for a hundred years upon the terms following:
2. If an enemy invade the country of the Athenians, the Argives, Eleans, and Mantineans shall go to the relief of Athens, according as the Athenians may require by message, in such way as they most effectually can, to the best of their power. But if the invader be gone after plundering the territory, the offending state shall be the enemy of the Argives, Mantineans, Eleans, and Athenians, and war shall be made against it by all these cities: and no one of the cities shall be able to make peace with that state, except all the above cities agree to do so.
3. Likewise the Athenians shall go to the relief of Argos, Mantinea, and Elis, if an enemy invade the country of Elis, Mantinea, or Argos, according as the above cities may require by message, in such way as they most effectually can, to the best of their power. But if the invader be gone after plundering the territory, the state offending shall be the enemy of the Athenians, Argives, Mantineans, and Eleans, and war shall be made against it by all these cities, and peace may not be made with that state except all the above cities agree to it.
4. No armed force shall be allowed to pass for hostile purposes through the country of the powers contracting, or of the allies in their respective empires, or to go by sea, except all the cities—that is to say, Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis—vote for such passage.
5. The relieving troops shall be maintained by the city sending them for thirty days from their arrival in the city that has required them, and upon their return in the same way: if their services be desired for a longer period, the city that sent for them shall maintain them, at the rate of three Aeginetan obols per day for a heavy-armed soldier, archer, or light soldier, and an Aeginetan drachma for a trooper.
6. The city sending for the troops shall have the command when the war is in its own country: but in case of the cities resolving upon a joint expedition the command shall be equally divided among all the cities.
7. The treaty shall be sworn to by the Athenians for themselves and their allies, by the Argives, Mantineans, Eleans, and their allies, by each state individually. Each shall swear the oath most binding in his country over full-grown victims: the oath being as follows:
Modern Translation
The following terms shall govern relations between the parties: Neither the Argives, Eleans, Mantineans, and their allies shall wage war against the Athenians or the allies within the Athenian empire, nor shall the Athenians and their allies wage war against the Argives, Eleans, Mantineans, or their allies, by any means whatsoever.
The Athenians, Argives, Eleans, and Mantineans shall maintain a defensive alliance for one hundred years according to these provisions:
Should an enemy invade Athenian territory, the Argives, Eleans, and Mantineans must come to Athens' aid as requested by Athenian messengers, providing the most effective assistance within their power. If the invader withdraws after ravaging the land, that aggressor state shall become the common enemy of all four cities—Argos, Mantinea, Elis, and Athens—and all must wage war against it. None of these cities may conclude a separate peace unless all agree to do so.
Similarly, the Athenians must aid Argos, Mantinea, and Elis if any of their territories face invasion, responding to their summons with the most effective force they can muster. Should the invader withdraw after plundering, that aggressor becomes the enemy of all four allied cities, who must jointly prosecute the war. Peace requires unanimous consent.
No armed forces may pass through the territory of the contracting powers or their respective allies for hostile purposes, whether by land or sea, unless all four cities—Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis—approve such passage.
Relief forces shall be maintained by their home city for thirty days after arriving at the requesting city's territory, and likewise for their return journey. Should their services be required beyond thirty days, the host city must provide maintenance at three Aeginetan obols daily for each heavy infantryman, archer, or light-armed soldier, and one Aeginetan drachma for each cavalryman.
The city requesting assistance shall exercise command when fighting occurs within its own territory. However, should the cities undertake a joint offensive expedition, command shall be shared equally among all participating cities.
The Athenians shall swear to this treaty on behalf of themselves and their allies, while the Argives, Mantineans, Eleans shall each swear individually for their respective states and allies. Each party shall take the most solemn oath recognized in their country, sworn over mature sacrificial victims. The oath shall be as follows:
Historical Context
This passage records the formal treaty establishing the Quadruple Alliance of 420 BCE between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis. Following the Peace of Nicias (421 BCE), which had temporarily ended hostilities between Athens and Sparta, various Greek states began realigning themselves. This alliance represented Athens' attempt to counterbalance Spartan power in the Peloponnese by uniting with Sparta's traditional enemies. The treaty's detailed provisions for mutual defense, command structure, and financial arrangements reflect the sophisticated diplomatic practices of the period. This alliance would prove short-lived, as it would lead to the Battle of Mantinea in 418 BCE, where the allied forces were defeated by Sparta, effectively ending Athens' attempt to establish hegemony in the Peloponnese through this coalition.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Aeginetan Currency
The Aeginetan standard was one of the principal weight systems in ancient Greece. An Aeginetan drachma weighed about 6.1 grams, heavier than the Attic standard. The use of this currency in the treaty suggests its widespread acceptance for international transactions.
Learn more →Greek Alliance Systems
Greek alliances (symmachiai) were formal agreements between city-states for mutual defense or offense. They typically specified military obligations, command structures, and duration. This treaty exemplifies the complex diplomatic networks that characterized the Classical period.
Learn more →Religious Oaths in Treaties
Greek treaties were sanctified by religious oaths sworn over sacrificial victims. Each city would use its own most binding oath formula, invoking local gods as witnesses. Breaking such oaths was considered both impious and politically dangerous.
Learn more →Peloponnesian Politics
The alliance united Athens with three Peloponnesian states traditionally hostile to Sparta. Argos was Sparta's ancient rival, while Mantinea and Elis had grievances over Spartan interference in their territories. This coalition aimed to contain Spartan influence.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (15.1-2)
Plutarch describes Alcibiades' role in orchestrating this alliance, emphasizing his personal ambition and rivalry with Nicias in promoting an anti-Spartan coalition.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.1-2)
Though Xenophon begins his narrative later, he references the instability of alliances during this period and how shifting coalitions characterized Greek interstate relations.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.75-76)
Diodorus provides a condensed account of this period, including the formation of the Quadruple Alliance and its role in escalating tensions between Athens and Sparta.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How do the specific provisions of this treaty reflect the practical concerns of Greek warfare and the maintenance of allied forces?
- What does the emphasis on unanimous consent for peace negotiations reveal about Greek concepts of collective security?
- How might the equal command structure for joint expeditions have created problems in practice?
- Why would Athens seek allies in the Peloponnese rather than strengthening its maritime empire?