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1.
Such were the events in Sicily.
When the news was brought to Athens, for a long while they disbelieved even
the most respectable of the soldiers who had themselves escaped from the
scene of action and clearly reported the matter, a destruction so complete
not being thought credible.
When the conviction was forced upon them, they were angry with the orators
who had joined in promoting the expedition, just as if they had not
themselves voted it, and were enraged also with the reciters of oracles and
soothsayers, and all other omenmongers of the time who had encouraged them
to hope that they should conquer Sicily.
[2]
Already distressed at all points and in all quarters, after what had now
happened, they were seized by a fear and consternation quite without
example.
It was grievous enough for the state and for every man in his proper person
to lose so many heavy infantry, cavalry, and able-bodied troops, and to see
none left to replace them; but when they saw, also, that they had not sufficient ships in their docks,
or money in the treasury, or crews for the ships, they began to despair of
salvation.
They thought that their enemies in Sicily would immediately sail with their
fleet against Piraeus, inflamed by so signal a victory; while their adversaries at home, redoubling all their preparations, would
vigorously attack them by sea and land at once, aided by their own revolted
confederates.
[3]
Nevertheless, with such means as they had, it was determined to resist to
the last, and to provide timber and money, and to equip a fleet as they best
could, to take steps to secure their confederates and above all Euboea, to
reform things in the city upon a more economical footing, and to elect a
board of elders to advise upon the state of affairs as occasion should
arise.
[4]
In short, as is the way of a democracy, in the panic of the moment they
were ready to be as prudent as possible.These
resolves were at once carried into effect.
Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War. London, J. M. Dent; New York, E. P. Dutton. 1910.
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References (38 total)
- Commentary references to this page (4):
- Cross-references to this page
(8):
- Raphael Kühner, Friedrich Blass, Ausführliche Grammatik der Griechischen Sprache, B. Konsonanten.
- Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 1.4.2
- Harper's, Peloponnesian War
- Harper's, Tissaphernes
- A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), HIEROME´NIA
- A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), PROBOULI
- Smith's Bio, Hagnon
- Smith's Bio, So'phocles
- Cross-references in notes to this page
(1):
- Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander, The Peloponnesian War and Athenian Life
- Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page
(25):
- LSJ, ἀνέλπιστ-ος
- LSJ, βαρύν-ω
- LSJ, διπλ-άσιος
- LSJ, ἐπελπίζω
- LSJ, εὐτακτ-έω
- LSJ, ἡλι^κί-α
- LSJ, ἴδιος
- LSJ, μάντι^ς
- LSJ, οὕτως
- LSJ, οὐ
- LSJ, πάνυ^
- LSJ, πανσυ^δί
- LSJ, παραχρῆμα
- LSJ, πλέω
- LSJ, ποιέω
- LSJ, πρόβουλος
- LSJ, προβουλ-εύω
- LSJ, θει-άζω
- LSJ, ῥήτωρ
- LSJ, συμπορ-ίζω
- LSJ, συμπρο-θυ_μέομαι
- LSJ, σωφρον-ίζω
- LSJ, ὑπάρχω
- LSJ, ὑπηρεσ-ία
- LSJ, χαλεπ-ός
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