Today's Passage
This passage describes the formation of the Delian League (478/7 BCE) following the Greek victory over Persia.
Crawley Translation (1910)
The Athenians, having thus succeeded to the supremacy by the voluntary act of the allies through their hatred of Pausanias, fixed which cities were to contribute money against the barbarian, which ships; their professed object being to retaliate for their sufferings by ravaging the King’s country. Now was the time that the office of “Treasurers for Hellas” was first instituted by the Athenians. These officers received the tribute, as the money contributed was called. The tribute was first fixed at four hundred and sixty talents. The common treasury was at Delos, and the congresses were held in the temple. Their supremacy commenced with independent allies who acted on the resolutions of a common congress. It was marked by the following undertakings in war and in administration during the interval between the Median and the present war, against the barbarian, against their own rebel allies, and against the Peloponnesian powers which would come in contact with them on various occasions. My excuse for relating these events, and for venturing on this digression, is that this passage of history has been omitted by all my predecessors, who have confined themselves either to Hellenic history before the Median War, or the Median War itself. Hellanicus, it is true, did touch on these events in his Athenian history; but he is somewhat concise and not accurate in his dates. Besides, the history of these events contains an explanation of the growth of the Athenian empire.
Modern Translation
After the Athenians had inherited their leadership through the allies' voluntary decision—driven by their hatred of Pausanias—they determined which cities should contribute money and which should provide ships for the war against Persia. Their stated purpose was to seek revenge for their losses by devastating the Persian king's territory. This was when the Athenians first established the office of 'Treasurers of Greece' to collect what was called the tribute. Initially, this tribute was set at four hundred and sixty talents. The shared treasury was located at Delos, where assemblies convened in the temple. Athens began its supremacy working with autonomous allies who followed decisions made in joint assemblies. This period saw various military campaigns and administrative actions between the Persian Wars and the current conflict—operations against Persia, rebellious allies, and Peloponnesian states encountered in different circumstances. I include these events and risk this digression because every historian before me has neglected this period, limiting themselves either to Greek history before the Persian Wars or to the Persian Wars alone. While Hellanicus did address these events in his Athenian chronicle, his treatment is overly brief and chronologically imprecise. Moreover, examining these events reveals how the Athenian empire developed.
Historical Context
This passage describes the formation of the Delian League (478/7 BCE) following the Greek victory over Persia. After the Spartan general Pausanias was recalled due to his arrogant behavior, Athens assumed leadership of the anti-Persian alliance. Thucydides explains how Athens organized this confederacy, establishing a tribute system and treasury at Delos. The passage is crucial because it marks the transformation of a voluntary defensive alliance into what would become the Athenian Empire. Thucydides justifies his inclusion of this historical background (the Pentecontaetia or 'fifty-year period') by noting that previous historians had neglected it, despite its importance for understanding how Athens gained the power that would eventually lead to conflict with Sparta.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Delian League
A confederacy of Greek city-states led by Athens, originally formed to continue fighting Persia after 478 BCE. Named after its treasury on the sacred island of Delos, it gradually transformed from a voluntary alliance into an Athenian empire as Athens increasingly dominated its 'allies.'
Learn more →Pausanias and Leadership Transfer
The Spartan regent Pausanias commanded Greek forces at Plataea but became increasingly autocratic and pro-Persian. His behavior alienated the Ionian Greeks, who preferred Athenian leadership. This voluntary transfer of hegemony from Sparta to Athens was a pivotal moment in Greek history.
Learn more →Hellanicus of Lesbos
A 5th-century BCE Greek historian who wrote various works including an Atthis (chronicle of Athens). Thucydides' criticism of Hellanicus for chronological inaccuracy reflects his own methodological rigor and commitment to precise historical documentation.
Learn more →Tribute System
The phoros (tribute) of 460 talents was collected from member states to fund the league's operations. Cities could contribute either money or ships. This system eventually became a tool of Athenian imperialism as the treasury moved from Delos to Athens in 454 BCE.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Aristides (23-25)
Describes Aristides' role in establishing the tribute assessments for the Delian League, providing personal details about the fair distribution of financial burdens among member states.
Read passage →Aristotle: Constitution of the Athenians (23.4-5)
Provides details about the administrative structure of the Delian League and Athens' growing control over allied states, complementing Thucydides' account.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (11.44-47)
Offers an alternative account of the league's formation with additional details about the oath-taking ceremony and the symbolic throwing of iron into the sea.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides' justification for including this historical background reveal his understanding of causation in history?
- What tensions exist between the league's 'professed object' and its actual development? How does this reflect on the nature of political rhetoric?
- Why might Thucydides emphasize that the allies' choice was 'voluntary'? What does this suggest about legitimacy and power?
- How does the criticism of Hellanicus illuminate Thucydides' own historical methodology and values?