Thucydides Daily Reader

While the Peloponnesian forces were still gathering at the Isthmus or marching toward their invasion of Attica, Pericles son of Xanthippus, one of Athens' ten generals, learned that the invasion was imminent. He realized that Archidamus, who happened to be his personal friend, might deliberately spare his private estates from destruction. This could happen either because Archidamus genuinely wished to do him a personal favor, or because the Spartans had instructed him to do so in order to cast suspicion on Pericles—a tactic they had previously attempted when demanding the expulsion of the cursed Alcmaeonid family. To prevent any such suspicion, Pericles took the precaution of addressing the Athenian assembly. He declared that while Archidamus was indeed his friend, this friendship would never compromise the interests of the state. Should the enemy spare his houses and lands while devastating everyone else's property, he would immediately donate them to the public treasury to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Pericles then offered the citizens strategic advice consistent with his previous recommendations. They should prepare for war by bringing all movable property from the countryside into the city. They must resist the temptation to march out and meet the enemy in battle; instead, they should remain within the city walls to defend it while preparing their fleet, which constituted Athens' true military advantage. They must also maintain strict control over their allies, since Athens' power depended on the tribute payments these allies provided, and success in warfare depended above all on sound judgment and financial resources. He assured them they had no reason for despair. Beyond their various other revenue streams, Athens received an average annual tribute of six hundred talents of silver from their allies. The Acropolis treasury still held six thousand talents of coined silver, down from a peak of nine thousand seven hundred talents—the difference having been spent on the Propylaea, other public buildings, and the siege of Potidaea. This figure excluded uncoined gold and silver in public and private dedications, sacred vessels used in processions and festivals, Persian spoils, and similar assets worth approximately five hundred talents. Additionally, the treasuries of other temples held substantial reserves that could legitimately be used. In the most extreme emergency, they could even use the gold plating from Athena's statue itself, which contained forty talents of pure gold, all of it removable—though every bit would have to be replaced afterward.

Such was their financial position—certainly a strong one. Their military forces included thirteen thousand heavy infantry, plus sixteen thousand more stationed in garrisons and on home defense duties in Athens. This latter figure represented the initial defensive force in case of invasion, composed of the oldest and youngest age groups plus resident aliens equipped with heavy armor. The wall to Phalerum extended four miles before connecting with the city circuit; of the city wall itself, nearly five miles required guards, though some sections between the Long Walls and the Phaleric wall were left undefended. The Long Walls to Piraeus stretched approximately four and a half miles, with the outer wall being manned. Finally, the fortification encircling Piraeus and Munychia measured nearly seven and a half miles in circumference, though only half required active defense. Pericles also reminded them of their cavalry forces: twelve hundred horsemen including mounted archers, sixteen hundred foot archers, and three hundred seaworthy warships. These were Athens' resources across all military departments as the Peloponnesian invasion loomed and hostilities commenced. Pericles concluded by reiterating his familiar arguments for why they should expect a favorable outcome to the war.