Today's Passage
This passage details the formal oath-taking ceremonies and renewal procedures for the Quadruple Alliance of 420 BCE between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis.
Crawley Translation (1910)
“I STAND BY THE ALLIANCE AND ITS ARTICLES, JUSTLY, INNOCENTLY, AND SINCERELY, AND I WILL NOT TRANSGRESS THE SAME IN ANY WAY OR MEANS WHATSOEVER.”
The oath shall be taken at Athens by the Senate and the magistrates, the Prytanes administering it: at Argos by the Senate, the Eighty, and the Artynae, the Eighty administering it: at Mantinea by the Demiurgi, the Senate, and the other magistrates, the Theori and Polemarchs administering it: at Elis by the Demiurgi, the magistrates, and the Six Hundred, the Demiurgi and the Thesmophylaces administering it. The oaths shall be renewed by the Athenians going to Elis, Mantinea, and Argos thirty days before the Olympic games: by the Argives, Mantineans, and Eleans going to Athens ten days before the great feast of the Panathenaea. The articles of the treaty, the oaths, and the alliance shall be inscribed on a stone pillar by the Athenians in the citadel, by the Argives in the market-place, in the temple of Apollo: by the Mantineans in the temple of Zeus, in the market-place: and a brazen pillar shall be erected jointly by them at the Olympic games now at hand. Should the above cities see good to make any addition in these articles, whatever all the above cities shall agree upon, after consulting together, shall be binding.
Although the treaty and alliances were thus concluded, still the treaty between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians was not renounced by either party. Meanwhile Corinth, although the ally of the Argives, did not accede to the new treaty, any more than she had done to the alliance, defensive and offensive, formed before this between the Eleans, Argives, and Mantineans, when she declared herself content with the first alliance, which was defensive only, and which bound them to help each other, but not to join in attacking any. The Corinthians thus stood aloof from their allies, and again turned their thoughts towards Lacedaemon.
Modern Translation
"I PLEDGE TO UPHOLD THIS ALLIANCE AND ITS TERMS WITH JUSTICE, INTEGRITY, AND GOOD FAITH, AND I WILL NOT VIOLATE THEM IN ANY MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER."
At Athens, the Council and magistrates shall take this oath, with the Prytanes administering it. At Argos, the Council, the Board of Eighty, and the Artynae shall swear, with the Eighty administering. At Mantinea, the Demiurgi, Council, and other officials shall take the oath, administered by the Theori and Polemarchs. At Elis, the Demiurgi, magistrates, and the Six Hundred shall swear, with the Demiurgi and Thesmophylaces administering.
The Athenians shall renew their oaths by visiting Elis, Mantinea, and Argos thirty days before the Olympic festival. The Argives, Mantineans, and Eleans shall visit Athens ten days before the Great Panathenaea. The treaty's terms, oaths, and alliance shall be inscribed on stone pillars: by Athens on the Acropolis, by Argos in Apollo's temple in the agora, by Mantinea in Zeus's temple in their marketplace. Together they shall erect a bronze pillar at the upcoming Olympic games. If these cities wish to add provisions, whatever they unanimously agree upon after consultation shall be binding.
Despite these arrangements, neither Sparta nor Athens renounced their existing treaty. Corinth, though allied with Argos, refused to join this new agreement, just as she had previously declined the offensive-defensive pact between Elis, Argos, and Mantinea. She maintained her position that the original defensive alliance sufficed—one requiring mutual aid but not joint aggression. Thus Corinth distanced herself from her allies and began reconsidering relations with Sparta.
Historical Context
This passage details the formal oath-taking ceremonies and renewal procedures for the Quadruple Alliance of 420 BCE between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis. Following the Peace of Nicias (421 BCE), which had failed to resolve tensions, various Greek states realigned themselves. This alliance represented a major diplomatic coup for Athens, effectively encircling Sparta with hostile powers. The elaborate oath procedures reflect Greek religious and political practices, while the requirement for regular renewal at major Panhellenic festivals ensured ongoing commitment. Corinth's refusal to join reveals the complex web of loyalties and the distinction between defensive and offensive alliances that characterized Greek interstate relations during this period of shifting alliances.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Greek Oath-Taking Ceremonies
Religious oaths were fundamental to Greek diplomacy. The invocation of justice, innocence, and sincerity reflects the sacred nature of these agreements. Breaking such oaths invited divine punishment, making them more binding than mere political agreements. The public nature of the ceremonies ensured transparency and accountability.
Learn more →The Quadruple Alliance
This alliance between Athens, Argos, Elis, and Mantinea (420 BCE) was orchestrated by Alcibiades to isolate Sparta. It represented a significant shift in the balance of power in the Peloponnese, though it would prove short-lived after the Spartan victory at Mantinea in 418 BCE.
Learn more →Panhellenic Festivals
The Olympic games and Panathenaea served as diplomatic venues where treaties could be renewed. These religious festivals provided neutral ground for political negotiations and guaranteed safe passage for envoys, making them ideal for international diplomacy.
Learn more →Greek Magistrates
The various officials mentioned (Prytanes, Demiurgi, Polemarchs, etc.) reflect the diverse constitutional arrangements of Greek city-states. Each polis had unique governmental structures, though all required official validation of international agreements by their highest authorities.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (14-15)
Plutarch describes Alcibiades' role in orchestrating this alliance, portraying it as a masterful diplomatic maneuver designed to encircle Sparta and restore Athenian influence in the Peloponnese.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.75-78)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of these diplomatic negotiations, though with less detail about the oath-taking procedures, focusing more on the strategic implications of the alliance.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.1-10)
Though Xenophon begins his narrative later, he references the consequences of these shifting alliances and how they contributed to the resumption of full-scale war between Athens and Sparta.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How do the elaborate oath-taking procedures and renewal requirements reflect Greek attitudes toward international agreements? What modern parallels exist?
- Why might Corinth have distinguished between defensive and offensive alliances? What does this reveal about the nature of Greek interstate relations?
- How does the requirement to inscribe treaties on stone pillars in public spaces reflect democratic values and the importance of transparency in diplomacy?
- What role did religious festivals play in Greek diplomacy, and why were they chosen as venues for treaty renewals?