Today's Passage
This passage marks the beginning of Thucydides' account of the disastrous Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE), Athens' most ambitious and ultimately catastrophic military venture during the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Seventeenth Year of the War—The Sicilian Campaign—Affair of the Hermae—Departure of the Expedition
The same winter the Athenians resolved to sail again to Sicily, with a greater armament than that under Laches and Eurymedon, and, if possible, to conquer the island; most of them being ignorant of its size and of the number of its inhabitants, Hellenic and barbarian, and of the fact that they were undertaking a war not much inferior to that against the Peloponnesians. For the voyage round Sicily in a merchantman is not far short of eight days; and yet, large as the island is, there are only two miles of sea to prevent its being mainland.
Modern Translation
That same winter, the Athenians decided to mount another expedition to Sicily, this time with forces far exceeding those previously commanded by Laches and Eurymedon, intending, if possible, to subjugate the entire island. Most Athenians, however, were profoundly ignorant of Sicily's true dimensions and the vast numbers of its inhabitants, both Greek and non-Greek alike. They failed to grasp that they were embarking upon a conflict scarcely less demanding than their war with the Peloponnesians. A merchant vessel requires nearly eight full days to circumnavigate Sicily; and despite the island's immense size, a mere two miles of water separates it from the mainland.
Historical Context
This passage marks the beginning of Thucydides' account of the disastrous Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE), Athens' most ambitious and ultimately catastrophic military venture during the Peloponnesian War. Writing in winter 415 BCE, Thucydides emphasizes Athenian ignorance about Sicily's size and population, foreshadowing the expedition's failure. The previous commanders, Laches and Eurymedon, had led smaller operations in Sicily around 427-424 BCE. The historian's emphasis on Athenian misconceptions serves as a critique of imperial overreach and the dangers of making decisions based on incomplete information. The reference to Sicily's proximity to mainland Italy hints at the potential for intervention by other powers. This expedition would ultimately result in the complete destruction of Athenian forces and mark the beginning of Athens' decline as a major power.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Sicilian Expedition
The Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE) was Athens' attempt to conquer Sicily during the Peloponnesian War. It ended in complete disaster with the loss of over 40,000 men and 200 ships, marking a turning point in Athenian fortunes and contributing significantly to their eventual defeat by Sparta.
Learn more →Geography of Ancient Sicily
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, was home to numerous Greek colonies (like Syracuse and Agrigentum) and indigenous peoples. Its strategic location and agricultural wealth made it a valuable target. The 'two miles of sea' refers to the Strait of Messina separating Sicily from Calabria.
Learn more →Athenian Imperialism
By 415 BCE, Athens had transformed the Delian League into an empire. The decision to invade Sicily represents the apex of Athenian imperial ambition, driven by desire for resources and strategic advantage. This overextension would prove fatal to Athenian hegemony.
Learn more →Previous Sicilian Campaigns
Laches led an Athenian expedition to Sicily in 427-426 BCE, achieving limited success. Eurymedon commanded reinforcements in 425 BCE. These earlier, smaller interventions gave Athenians false confidence about conquering the entire island with a larger force.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Nicias (12.1-2)
Plutarch describes the Athenian assembly's decision to invade Sicily, emphasizing how Alcibiades inflamed their ambitions while most citizens were ignorant of the island's size and strength, directly paralleling Thucydides' account.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.83-84)
Diodorus, himself Sicilian, provides detailed descriptions of Sicily's size, population, and cities, offering the geographical context that Thucydides suggests the Athenians lacked when planning their expedition.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (17.1-3)
Describes Alcibiades' role in promoting the expedition and the Athenians' grand ambitions, including dreams of conquering Carthage and Italy after Sicily, illustrating the dangerous overconfidence Thucydides highlights.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides use geographical ignorance as a metaphor for political and strategic miscalculation? What modern parallels can you identify?
- What role does accurate intelligence play in military and political decision-making? How might better information have changed Athenian choices?
- Compare the scale of the Sicilian expedition to the war against the Peloponnesians. What does this suggest about Athenian ambitions and resources?
- How does Thucydides' emphasis on Athenian ignorance at the very beginning of his account shape our reading of the subsequent narrative?