Today's Passage
This passage describes the climactic moments of a failed Theban surprise attack on Plataea in 431 BCE, which marked the opening of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
The Thebans, finding themselves outwitted, immediately closed up to repel all attacks made upon them. Twice or thrice they beat back their assailants. But the men shouted and charged them, the women and slaves screamed and yelled from the houses and pelted them with stones and tiles; besides, it had been raining hard all night; and so at last their courage gave way, and they turned and fled through the town. Most of the fugitives were quite ignorant of the right ways out, and this, with the mud, and the darkness caused by the moon being in her last quarter, and the fact that their pursuers knew their way about and could easily stop their escape, proved fatal to many. The only gate open was the one by which they had entered, and this was shut by one of the Plataeans driving the spike of a javelin into the bar instead of the bolt; so that even here there was no longer any means of exit. They were now chased all over the town. Some got on the wall and threw themselves over, in most cases with a fatal result. One party managed to find a deserted gate, and obtaining an axe from a woman, cut through the bar; but as they were soon observed only a few succeeded in getting out. Others were cut off in detail in different parts of the city. The most numerous and compact body rushed into a large building next to the city wall: the doors on the side of the street happened to be open, and the Thebans fancied that they were the gates of the town, and that there was a passage right through to the outside. The Plataeans, seeing their enemies in a trap, now consulted whether they should set fire to the building and burn them just as they were, or whether there was anything else that they could do with them; until at length these and the rest of the Theban survivors found wandering about the town agreed to an unconditional surrender of themselves and their arms to the Plataeans.
Modern Translation
When the Thebans realized they had been outmaneuvered, they immediately formed a tight defensive formation to ward off attacks from all directions. They managed to drive back their attackers two or three times. But then the Plataean men raised a battle cry and charged at them, while women and slaves shrieked from the rooftops, hurling stones and roof tiles down upon them. To make matters worse, heavy rain had been falling throughout the night. Finally, their morale shattered, and they broke ranks and fled in disorder through the city. Most of the fleeing soldiers had no idea where the exits were located. The combination of thick mud, the darkness—since the moon was in its final phase—and the fact that their pursuers knew the streets well and could easily block escape routes, proved catastrophic for many. The only gate that remained open was the one through which they had entered, but a Plataean sealed it by driving a spear-shaft through the crossbar in place of the bolt, eliminating even that escape route. The Thebans were now hunted throughout the city. Some climbed the walls and jumped down, usually to their deaths. One group discovered an unguarded gate and, after obtaining an axe from a woman, managed to hack through the bar; however, they were quickly spotted and only a handful escaped. Others were systematically killed in various quarters of the city. The largest and most organized group burst into a substantial building adjacent to the city wall: the street-facing doors happened to be open, and the Thebans mistakenly believed these were the city gates with a direct passage to safety outside. When the Plataeans saw their enemies trapped inside, they debated whether to set the building ablaze and incinerate them on the spot, or find some alternative solution. Eventually, these Thebans, along with other survivors scattered throughout the city, agreed to surrender unconditionally, giving up both themselves and their weapons to the Plataeans.
Historical Context
This passage describes the climactic moments of a failed Theban surprise attack on Plataea in 431 BCE, which marked the opening of the Peloponnesian War. A force of about 300 Thebans had infiltrated Plataea at night, hoping to seize this small but strategically important city allied with Athens. Initially catching the Plataeans off guard, the Thebans were soon surrounded when the citizens organized a counterattack. The passage vividly depicts the chaos of urban warfare as the trapped Thebans desperately seek escape through the unfamiliar streets. This incident provided Sparta with a pretext for war, as Plataea was under Athenian protection, making the Theban attack an act of aggression against the Athenian alliance system.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Ancient Greek Siege Warfare
This passage illustrates the brutal nature of urban combat in ancient Greece, where civilians participated alongside soldiers. The use of improvised weapons like roof tiles and the importance of controlling city gates were typical features of such conflicts.
Learn more →Plataea's Strategic Importance
Plataea, though small, held immense strategic and symbolic importance as Athens' oldest ally. Its location on the border between Attica and Boeotia made it a crucial buffer against Theban expansion toward Athenian territory.
Learn more →The Role of Women in Greek Warfare
While typically excluded from combat, Greek women often participated in city defense during sieges. This passage shows them throwing tiles and stones, a common defensive tactic that utilized their position in upper-story quarters.
Learn more →Night Fighting in Ancient Warfare
Night operations were rare and risky in ancient warfare due to communication difficulties and navigation challenges. This passage illustrates why: darkness, weather, and unfamiliar terrain could turn tactical advantages into deadly traps.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 9.25-28)
Describes the Battle of Plataea (479 BCE), where Greeks defeated Persians. This earlier event established Plataea's special relationship with Athens and explains why the city remained loyal despite Theban pressure.
Read passage →Demosthenes: On the Crown (Section 96-99)
References Theban-Athenian hostility and mentions how Thebes consistently opposed Athenian interests, providing context for why Thebes would risk starting a war by attacking Athens' ally.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Pericles (Chapter 30)
Discusses the mounting tensions before the Peloponnesian War and mentions the Theban attack on Plataea as one of the precipitating events that made conflict inevitable.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides' detailed description of urban combat contribute to his stated goal of creating a 'possession for all time'? What universal lessons about warfare does this passage convey?
- Analyze the role of chance versus planning in this military disaster. How much was due to Theban incompetence versus Plataean cleverness?
- What does this passage reveal about the participation of non-combatants (women and slaves) in ancient Greek warfare? How does this complicate our understanding of war in the ancient world?
- Consider the Plataeans' debate over burning the trapped Thebans alive. What does their hesitation suggest about Greek conventions of warfare and the treatment of enemies?