DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5625#0235
206
Survey of the Ancient World
Section 40. Third Peloponnesian War and
Destruction of the Athenian Empire
385. Alci- Meantime serious difficulties arose in carrying out the cofl-
biades brings .... r . . T. . ...
on war again ditions 0t the peace. Nicias continued to urge a conciliator
attitude toward Sparta, but he failed of election as general-
On the other hand, the gifted and reckless Alcibiades, seeking
opportunity for a brilliant military career, did all that he could
to excite the war party in Athens. He was elected general and
was soon able to carry the Assembly with him in his war plans-
In this way Attica, exhausted with plague and ten years oi
warfare, was enticed by Alcibiades into a life-and-death strugg'e
which was to prove final.
386. Third The.war began with several years of. ill-planned military and
nes?an°War; naval operations. For some years the Spartans did not respond
Sicilian ex- with hostilities and sent no army into Attica. Alcibiades at
peaition ^ t ,
length persuaded the Athenians to plan a great joint expedition
of army and navy against Sicily, especially the mighty city °^
■ Syracuse, founded as a colony of Corinth. The Athenians
placed Alcibiades and Nicias in command of the expedition-
387. Arrest Just as the fleet was about to sail, certain sacred images in
and^Ws flight Athens were impiously mutilated, and the deed was attributed
to Sparta t0 Alcibiades. In spite of his demand for an immediate trial,
the Athenians postponed the case until his return from Sicily-
When the fleet reached Italy, however, the Athenian people
with their usual inability to follow any consistent plan and als°
desiring to take Alcibiades at a great disadvantage, suddenly
recalled him for trial. This procedure not only deprived the
expedition of its only able leader but also gave Alcibiades an
opportunity to desert to the Spartans, which he promptly did-
His advice to the Spartans now proved fatal to the Athenians-
388. incom- The appearance of the huge Athenian fleet off their coast
Sficias6 °f struck dismay into the hearts of the Syracusans, but Nicia5
entirely failed to see the importance of immediate attack before
the Syracusans could recover and make preparations for the
Survey of the Ancient World
Section 40. Third Peloponnesian War and
Destruction of the Athenian Empire
385. Alci- Meantime serious difficulties arose in carrying out the cofl-
biades brings .... r . . T. . ...
on war again ditions 0t the peace. Nicias continued to urge a conciliator
attitude toward Sparta, but he failed of election as general-
On the other hand, the gifted and reckless Alcibiades, seeking
opportunity for a brilliant military career, did all that he could
to excite the war party in Athens. He was elected general and
was soon able to carry the Assembly with him in his war plans-
In this way Attica, exhausted with plague and ten years oi
warfare, was enticed by Alcibiades into a life-and-death strugg'e
which was to prove final.
386. Third The.war began with several years of. ill-planned military and
nes?an°War; naval operations. For some years the Spartans did not respond
Sicilian ex- with hostilities and sent no army into Attica. Alcibiades at
peaition ^ t ,
length persuaded the Athenians to plan a great joint expedition
of army and navy against Sicily, especially the mighty city °^
■ Syracuse, founded as a colony of Corinth. The Athenians
placed Alcibiades and Nicias in command of the expedition-
387. Arrest Just as the fleet was about to sail, certain sacred images in
and^Ws flight Athens were impiously mutilated, and the deed was attributed
to Sparta t0 Alcibiades. In spite of his demand for an immediate trial,
the Athenians postponed the case until his return from Sicily-
When the fleet reached Italy, however, the Athenian people
with their usual inability to follow any consistent plan and als°
desiring to take Alcibiades at a great disadvantage, suddenly
recalled him for trial. This procedure not only deprived the
expedition of its only able leader but also gave Alcibiades an
opportunity to desert to the Spartans, which he promptly did-
His advice to the Spartans now proved fatal to the Athenians-
388. incom- The appearance of the huge Athenian fleet off their coast
Sficias6 °f struck dismay into the hearts of the Syracusans, but Nicia5
entirely failed to see the importance of immediate attack before
the Syracusans could recover and make preparations for the