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102. The siege of Ithomè proved tedious, and the Lacedaemonians called in, among other allies,1 the Athenians, who sent to their aid a considerable force under Cimon.2 [2] The Athenians were specially invited because they were reputed to be skilful in siege operations, and the length of the blockade proved to the Lacedaemonians their own deficiency in that sort of warfare; else why had they not taken the place by assault? [3] This expedition of the Athenians led to the first open quarrel between them and the Lacedaemonians. For the Lacedaemonians, not succeeding in storming the place, took alarm at the bold and original spirit of the Athenians. They reflected that they were aliens in race, and fearing that, if they were allowed to remain, they might be tempted by the Helots in Ithomè to change sides, they dismissed them, while they retained the other allies. But they concealed their mistrust, and merely said that they no longer needed their services. [4] Now the Athenians saw that their dismissal was due to some suspicion which had arisen and not to the less offensive reason which was openly avowed; they felt keenly that such a slight ought not to have been3 offered them by the Lacedaemonians; and so, on their return home, they forthwith abandoned the alliance which they had made with them against the Persians and went over to their Argive enemies. At the same time both Argos and Athens bound themselves to Thessaly by a common oath of alliance.

1 B. C. 463–461.

2 The Athenians come to the assistance of the Lacedaemonians, but being suspected by them, they are dismissed and go away in a rage.

3 B.C. 463–461.

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  • Commentary references to this page (20):
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 5.63
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 6.80
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 7.148
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 7.151
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 9.70
    • T. G. Tucker, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 8, 8.97
    • C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 4, CHAPTER LIV
    • C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 5, 5.42
    • C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 5, 5.44
    • C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 5, 5.79
    • E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1, 1.107
    • E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1, 1.18
    • E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1, 1.2
    • Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5, 5.115
    • Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5, 5.42
    • Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5, 5.44
    • Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5, 5.48
    • Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5, 5.7
    • Charles D. Morris, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1, Introduction
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7, 7.48
  • Cross-references to this page (8):
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 1.3.2
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 1.pos=2.2
    • Harper's, Gythium
    • A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), EXE´RCITUS
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), GYTHIUM
    • Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, Concord of the adjective attribute.
    • Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, The Article
    • Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, The Article
  • Cross-references in notes to this page (5):
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page (9):
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