Today's Passage
This passage describes the aftermath of Themistocles' successful deception of the Spartans regarding Athens' refortification after the Persian Wars (479 BCE).
Crawley Translation (1910)
The Lacedaemonians did not betray any open signs of anger against the Athenians at what they heard. The embassy, it seems, was prompted not by a desire to obstruct, but to guide the counsels of their government: besides, Spartan feeling was at that time very friendly towards Athens on account of the patriotism which she had displayed in the struggle with the Mede. Still the defeat of their wishes could not but cause them secret annoyance. The envoys of each state departed home without complaint.
In this way the Athenians walled their city in a little while. To this day the building shows signs of the haste of its execution; the foundations are laid of stones of all kinds, and in some places not wrought or fitted, but placed just in the order in which they were brought by the different hands; and many columns, too, from tombs, and sculptured stones were put in with the rest. For the bounds of the city were extended at every point of the circumference; and so they laid hands on everything without exception in their haste. Themistocles also persuaded them to finish the walls of Piraeus, which had been begun before, in his year of office as archon; being influenced alike by the fineness of a locality that has three natural harbours, and by the great start which the Athenians would gain in the acquisition of power by becoming a naval people. For he first ventured to tell them to stick to the sea and forthwith began to lay the foundations of the empire. It was by his advice, too, that they built the walls of that thickness which can still be discerned round Piraeus, the stones being brought up by two wagons meeting each other. Between the walls thus formed there was neither rubble nor mortar, but great stones hewn square and fitted together, cramped to each other on the outside with iron and lead. About half the height that he intended was finished. His idea was by their size and thickness to keep off the attacks of an enemy; he thought that they might be adequately defended by a small garrison of invalids, and the rest be freed for service in the fleet. For the fleet claimed most of his attention. He saw, as I think, that the approach by sea was easier for the king’s army than that by land: he also thought Piraeus more valuable than the upper city; indeed, he was always advising the Athenians, if a day should come when they were hard pressed by land, to go down into Piraeus, and defy the world with their fleet. Thus, therefore, the Athenians completed their wall, and commenced their other buildings immediately after the retreat of the Mede.
Modern Translation
The Spartans showed no outward signs of anger toward the Athenians when they heard the news. Their embassy, apparently, had been motivated not by a desire to interfere but rather to offer guidance to Athens' government. Moreover, Spartan sentiment at that time was quite favorable toward Athens because of the courage she had shown in fighting against the Persians. Nevertheless, the failure of their plans inevitably caused them private irritation. The ambassadors from both cities returned home without voicing any complaints.
In this manner, the Athenians managed to wall their city in remarkably little time. Even today, the construction bears witness to the speed of its completion: the foundations consist of stones of every variety, some not even properly shaped or fitted, but simply placed in whatever order they arrived. Many columns from burial monuments and carved stones were incorporated alongside the rest. Since the city's boundaries were being extended at every point around its perimeter, they seized upon everything available in their urgency.
Themistocles also convinced them to complete the walls of Piraeus, construction of which had begun earlier during his term as archon. He was motivated both by the excellence of the site, which possessed three natural harbors, and by the tremendous advantage the Athenians would gain in power by becoming a maritime nation. Indeed, he was the first who dared to advise them to commit themselves to the sea, and he immediately began establishing the foundations of their empire.
Following his counsel, they built walls of such thickness as can still be observed around Piraeus, with stones transported by two carts approaching from opposite directions. The space between these walls contained neither rubble nor mortar, but consisted of massive square-cut stones fitted precisely together, secured on the exterior with iron and lead clamps. Only about half the intended height was completed. His concept was that their sheer size and thickness would repel enemy attacks; he calculated that they could be adequately defended by a small force of disabled soldiers, freeing the able-bodied for naval service.
The fleet commanded most of his attention. He recognized, I believe, that the Persian king's forces could approach more easily by sea than by land. He also considered Piraeus more strategically important than the upper city; indeed, he constantly advised the Athenians that if they should ever find themselves overwhelmed on land, they should withdraw to Piraeus and use their fleet to defy the entire world. Thus the Athenians completed their fortifications and began their other construction projects immediately following the Persian withdrawal.
Historical Context
This passage describes the aftermath of Themistocles' successful deception of the Spartans regarding Athens' refortification after the Persian Wars (479 BCE). While Sparta had initially opposed Athens rebuilding its walls, fearing a fortified Athens might threaten Spartan hegemony, Themistocles had stalled the Spartan embassy while the Athenians hastily erected their defenses. The passage reveals both the diplomatic tension between the two powers and Athens' transformation into a naval empire. Thucydides emphasizes how the rushed construction incorporated any available materials, including tomb monuments, and how Themistocles' vision of naval supremacy shaped Athens' strategic development, particularly through the fortification of Piraeus, Athens' port city.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Themistocles and Naval Strategy
Themistocles (c. 524-459 BCE) was the architect of Athenian naval power. His foresight in developing the fleet at Salamis against Persia extended to making Athens a permanent maritime power through the fortification of Piraeus, establishing the foundation for the Athenian Empire.
Learn more →Piraeus and Athenian Walls
The port of Piraeus, connected to Athens by the Long Walls, became the cornerstone of Athenian power. Its three natural harbors (Kantharos, Zea, and Munychia) provided military and commercial advantages that sustained Athens' empire throughout the 5th century BCE.
Learn more →Post-Persian War Diplomacy
The period after Xerxes' defeat (479 BCE) saw growing tension between Sparta and Athens. While nominally allies against Persia, their different political systems and strategic interests—Sparta's land-based conservatism versus Athens' naval innovation—created the conditions for future conflict.
Learn more →Ancient Greek Fortifications
Greek city walls served both defensive and symbolic purposes. The hasty construction described here, using spolia (reused materials) from tombs and monuments, reflects the emergency conditions but also Athens' determination to assert its independence despite Spartan opposition.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Themistocles (19.1-3)
Plutarch provides a more dramatic account of Themistocles' deception of the Spartans and emphasizes his personal cleverness in outmaneuvering them while Athens rebuilt its walls.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (11.39-40)
Diodorus offers a parallel narrative of the wall-building episode, providing additional details about Spartan concerns and the speed of Athenian construction.
Read passage →Cornelius Nepos: Life of Themistocles (6-7)
Nepos briefly recounts Themistocles' role in fortifying Athens and Piraeus, emphasizing his foresight in establishing Athenian naval supremacy.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the contrast between Spartan diplomatic courtesy and private annoyance reflect the nature of Greek interstate relations?
- What does the incorporation of tomb monuments and sculptured stones into the walls suggest about Athenian priorities and values at this moment?
- How does Themistocles' vision of naval power represent a revolutionary shift in Greek military thinking?
- What tensions between democracy and empire are foreshadowed in Athens' transformation into a naval power?