Today's Passage
This passage depicts a critical diplomatic reversal in 420 BCE, where Argos abandons its alliance with Athens to realign with Sparta.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Summer now came to an end. In the first days of the next winter, when the Carnean holidays were over, the Lacedaemonians took the field, and arriving at Tegea sent on to Argos proposals of accommodation. They had before had a party in the town desirous of overthrowing the democracy; and after the battle that had been fought, these were now far more in a position to persuade the people to listen to terms. Their plan was first to make a treaty with the Lacedaemonians, to be followed by an alliance, and after this to fall upon the commons. Lichas, son of Arcesilaus, the Argive proxenus, accordingly arrived at Argos with two proposals from Lacedaemon, to regulate the conditions of war or peace, according as they preferred the one or the other. After much discussion, Alcibiades happening to be in the town, the Lacedaemonian party, who now ventured to act openly, persuaded the Argives to accept the proposal for accommodation; which ran as follows:
The assembly of the Lacedaemonians agrees to treat with the Argives upon the terms following:
1. The Argives shall restore to the Orchomenians their children, and to the Maenalians their men, and shall restore the men they have in Mantinea to the Lacedaemonians.
2. They shall evacuate Epidaurus, and raze the fortification there. If the Athenians refuse to withdraw from Epidaurus, they shall be declared enemies of the Argives and of the Lacedaemonians, and of the allies of the Lacedaemonians and the allies of the Argives.
3. If the Lacedaemonians have any children in their custody, they shall restore them every one to his city.
4. As to the offering to the god, the Argives, if they wish, shall impose an oath upon the Epidaurians, but, if not, they shall swear it themselves.
5. All the cities in Peloponnese, both small and great, shall be independent according to the customs of their country.
6. If any of the powers outside Peloponnese invade Peloponnesian territory, the parties contracting shall unite to repel them, on such terms as they may agree upon, as being most fair for the Peloponnesians.
7. All allies of the Lacedaemonians outside Peloponnese shall be on the same footing as the Lacedaemonians, and the allies of the Argives shall be on the same footing as the Argives, being left in enjoyment of their own possessions.
8. This treaty shall be shown to the allies, and shall be concluded, if they approve; if the allies think fit, they may send the treaty to be considered at home.
The Argives began by accepting this proposal, and the Lacedaemonian army returned home from Tegea. After this intercourse was renewed between them, and not long afterwards the same party contrived that the Argives should give up the league with the Mantineans, Eleans, and Athenians, and should make a treaty and alliance with the Lacedaemonians; which was consequently done upon the terms following:
Modern Translation
Summer came to an end. In the early days of the following winter, after the Carnean festival had concluded, the Spartans mobilized their forces and marched to Tegea, from where they sent peace proposals to Argos. They had long maintained a faction within Argos that sought to overthrow the democratic government; following the recent battle, this group was now much better positioned to convince the populace to accept terms. Their strategy was to first establish a treaty with Sparta, then form an alliance, and finally to launch an attack against the democratic faction. Lichas, son of Arcesilaus, who served as Sparta's representative in Argos, arrived with two alternative proposals from Sparta, offering terms for either continued hostilities or peace, depending on Argive preference. After extensive debate—with Alcibiades present in the city—the pro-Spartan faction, now bold enough to operate openly, convinced the Argives to accept the peace proposal, which contained these provisions:
The Spartan assembly agrees to negotiate with Argos on these terms:
1. Argos shall return captive children to Orchomenus and prisoners to the Maenalians, and shall release to Sparta those men held in Mantinea.
2. They shall withdraw from Epidaurus and demolish their fortifications there. Should Athens refuse to evacuate Epidaurus, they shall be declared enemies of both Argos and Sparta, as well as all their respective allies.
3. If Sparta holds any children captive, they shall return each to their home city.
4. Regarding religious obligations to the god, Argos may, if it chooses, require the Epidaurians to take an oath; otherwise, the Argives shall swear it themselves.
5. Every Peloponnesian city, regardless of size, shall maintain its independence according to ancestral customs.
6. Should any foreign power invade the Peloponnese, the contracting parties shall jointly resist, negotiating specific terms as needed to ensure fairness for all Peloponnesians.
7. Sparta's non-Peloponnesian allies shall enjoy the same status as Sparta itself, and Argos's allies shall have equal standing with Argos, each retaining their territories.
8. This treaty shall be presented to the allies for approval; if they wish, they may refer it back for domestic consideration.
The Argives initially accepted this proposal, and the Spartan army withdrew from Tegea. Communications continued between the two states, and shortly thereafter, the same pro-Spartan faction engineered Argos's withdrawal from its alliance with Mantinea, Elis, and Athens, replacing it with a treaty and alliance with Sparta, which was concluded on the following terms:
Historical Context
This passage depicts a critical diplomatic reversal in 420 BCE, where Argos abandons its alliance with Athens to realign with Sparta. Following the Battle of Mantinea (418 BCE), where Sparta defeated the coalition of Argos, Athens, and their allies, the pro-Spartan oligarchic faction in Argos gained influence. The passage shows how internal political divisions—between democrats and oligarchs—shaped interstate relations. The presence of Alcibiades, the ambitious Athenian politician who had originally orchestrated the anti-Spartan alliance, adds irony to the scene. The Carnean festival mentioned was a major Dorian religious celebration that typically prevented military campaigns. This diplomatic revolution effectively dissolved the coalition that had threatened Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnese, marking a significant victory for Sparta achieved through diplomacy rather than warfare.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Carnean Festival
The Carneia was a major Dorian religious festival honoring Apollo Karneios, celebrated in late summer. Military campaigns were forbidden during this period, which often affected the timing of Greek warfare. The festival's conclusion here signals the resumption of normal diplomatic and military activities.
Learn more →Proxenos System
A proxenos was a citizen who served as a representative for another city-state within their own city. Lichas, as Argive proxenos, represented Argive interests in Sparta while facilitating Spartan diplomatic efforts in Argos. This system was crucial for maintaining diplomatic channels between Greek states.
Learn more →Battle of Mantinea (418 BCE)
The largest hoplite battle of the Peloponnesian War, where Sparta defeated a coalition of Argos, Athens, Mantinea, and Elis. This victory restored Spartan prestige and military dominance in the Peloponnese, setting the stage for the diplomatic realignment described in this passage.
Learn more →Alcibiades' Diplomatic Strategy
Alcibiades had engineered the original Quadruple Alliance against Sparta in 420 BCE, exploiting Argive fears and ambitions. His presence during Argos's defection to Sparta represents a major failure of his anti-Spartan policy and demonstrates the fragility of diplomatic arrangements based on temporary advantage.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (15.1-4)
Plutarch describes Alcibiades' role in forming the original alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis, providing background to understand the significance of this diplomatic reversal.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.80-81)
Diodorus provides an account of the Battle of Mantinea and its aftermath, offering context for understanding why Argos was willing to abandon its alliance with Athens.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (5.5.23-36)
Though describing later events, Xenophon's account of Spartan diplomatic methods and the use of pro-Spartan factions in other cities illuminates the tactics employed here.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does this passage illustrate the relationship between internal politics (democracy vs. oligarchy) and foreign policy in Greek city-states?
- What does the presence of Alcibiades during this diplomatic reversal suggest about the limitations of individual influence in international relations?
- How do the treaty terms reflect Spartan priorities and methods of maintaining hegemony in the Peloponnese?
- Compare the role of religious festivals (like the Carneia) in constraining or shaping military and diplomatic activities in ancient Greece versus modern international relations.