Today's Passage
This passage occurs at a crucial moment in 432 BCE, just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
But the siege of Potidæa put an end to her inaction; she had men inside it: besides, she feared for the place. Immediately summoning the allies to Lacedaemon, she came and loudly accused Athens of breach of the treaty and aggression on the rights of Peloponnese. With her, the Aeginetans, formally unrepresented from fear of Athens, in secret proved not the least urgent of the advocates for war, asserting that they had not the independence guaranteed to them by the treaty. After extending the summons to any of their allies and others who might have complaints to make of Athenian aggression, the Lacedaemonians held their ordinary assembly, and invited them to speak. There were many who came forward and made their several accusations; among them the Megarians, in a long list of grievances, called special attention to the fact of their exclusion from the ports of the Athenian empire and the market of Athens, in defiance of the treaty. Last of all the Corinthians came forward, and having let those who preceded them inflame the Lacedaemonians, now followed with a speech to this effect:
“Lacedaemonians! the confidence which you feel in your constitution and social order, inclines you to receive any reflections of ours on other powers with a certain scepticism. Hence springs your moderation, but hence also the rather limited knowledge which you betray in dealing with foreign politics. Time after time was our voice raised to warn you of the blows about to be dealt us by Athens, and time after time, instead of taking the trouble to ascertain the worth of our communications, you contented yourselves with suspecting the speakers of being inspired by private interest. And so, instead of calling these allies together before the blow fell, you have delayed to do so till we are smarting under it; allies among whom we have not the worst title to speak, as having the greatest complaints to make, complaints of Athenian outrage and Lacedaemonian neglect. Now if these assaults on the rights of Hellas had been made in the dark, you might be unacquainted with the facts, and it would be our duty to enlighten you. As it is, long speeches are not needed where you see servitude accomplished for some of us, meditated for others—in particular for our allies—and prolonged preparations in the aggressor against the hour of war. Or what, pray, is the meaning of their reception of Corcyra by fraud, and their holding it against us by force? what of the siege of Potidæa?—places one of which lies most conveniently for any action against the Thracian towns; while the other would have contributed a very large navy to the Peloponnesians?
Modern Translation
But the siege of Potidaea ended Corinth's inaction; she had citizens trapped inside the city, and moreover, she feared for its fate. She immediately summoned the allies to Sparta and vehemently accused Athens of violating the treaty and committing aggression against the Peloponnesian League. The Aeginetans joined her cause, though they sent no formal representatives out of fear of Athens. In secret, however, they proved among the most passionate advocates for war, claiming they lacked the independence the treaty had guaranteed them. After inviting any of their allies and others who had grievances against Athenian aggression to come forward, the Spartans convened their regular assembly and invited them to speak. Many stepped forward to present their various accusations. Among them, the Megarians aired a lengthy catalog of grievances, emphasizing particularly their exclusion from the harbors of the Athenian empire and the Athenian marketplace, which they claimed violated the treaty. Finally, the Corinthians came forward. Having allowed the previous speakers to inflame Spartan sentiment, they now delivered this speech:
"Spartans! Your confidence in your own constitution and social system makes you skeptical when we criticize other states. This accounts for your restraint, but it also explains your rather narrow understanding of international affairs. Time and again we raised our voices to warn you about the injuries Athens was preparing to inflict upon us. Yet each time, rather than investigating the merit of our warnings, you merely suspected us of acting from self-interest. Consequently, instead of assembling these allies before disaster struck, you have waited until we are already suffering—we allies who have every right to speak, possessing as we do the gravest complaints: Athenian aggression and Spartan neglect. Now, if Athens had committed these attacks on Greek freedom secretly, you might claim ignorance, and we would need to inform you. But lengthy explanations are unnecessary when you can plainly see that some of us are already enslaved while others—particularly our allies—face the same fate, and when you witness the aggressor's extensive preparations for war. Otherwise, how do you explain their fraudulent acquisition of Corcyra and their forceful retention of it against us? What about their siege of Potidaea? The former provides the perfect base for operations against the Thracian cities, while the latter would have supplied the Peloponnesians with a formidable naval force."
Historical Context
This passage occurs at a crucial moment in 432 BCE, just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. The siege of Potidaea, a Corinthian colony that had revolted from Athens, has galvanized Sparta's allies to demand action. At this assembly in Sparta, various allied states present their grievances against growing Athenian power. Corinth, as Potidaea's mother city, takes the lead in pushing for war. The Megarian Decree, which banned Megara from Athenian markets, and secret Aeginetan complaints add to the chorus demanding Spartan intervention. This assembly represents the culmination of years of rising tensions between Athens and Sparta's allies, with Corinth's speech marking a pivotal rhetorical moment that would help push Sparta toward declaring war.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Megarian Decree
The Megarian Decree was an economic embargo imposed by Pericles around 432 BCE, banning Megarians from Athenian harbors and markets. This aggressive economic warfare was ostensibly punishment for Megara's cultivation of sacred land, but effectively strangled Megara's economy and became a major catalyst for war.
Learn more →Potidaea
Potidaea was a strategic city in Chalcidice, originally a Corinthian colony but a tribute-paying member of the Athenian Empire. Its revolt in 432 BCE and subsequent siege by Athens directly threatened Corinthian interests and became the immediate cause of Corinth's push for war.
Learn more →Spartan Foreign Policy
Sparta's conservative foreign policy, referenced in the Corinthian criticism, stemmed from fear of helot revolts at home. This cautious approach often frustrated allies who wanted more aggressive action against Athens, creating tensions within the Peloponnesian League.
Learn more →Aegina
Aegina, an island state in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, had been forcibly incorporated into the Athenian Empire around 457 BCE. Despite treaty guarantees of autonomy, Aegina remained under Athenian control, their 'secret' complaints reflecting their fear of Athenian retaliation.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Pericles (29-32)
Plutarch provides additional detail about the Megarian Decree and Pericles' refusal to repeal it, showing how this economic sanction became a focal point of pre-war negotiations and demonstrating Pericles' inflexibility.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.39-40)
Diodorus offers a condensed account of these same grievances and the Spartan assembly, providing an alternative perspective on the allies' complaints and the decision-making process that led to war.
Read passage →Aristophanes: The Acharnians (lines 515-539)
This comedy, produced in 425 BCE, satirically presents the Megarian Decree as a cause of war, showing how contemporary Athenians understood these pre-war grievances and their role in starting the conflict.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the Corinthian speaker use the rhetoric of criticism and flattery to manipulate Spartan opinion? What does this reveal about interstate diplomacy in ancient Greece?
- Compare the different allied grievances presented. Which seem most legitimate, and why might some states (like Aegina) fear to speak openly?
- What does this passage suggest about the nature of hegemonic power and the challenges faced by Athens in maintaining its empire?
- How does Thucydides' presentation of multiple perspectives challenge readers to evaluate the justice of each side's position?