Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.90

[1] But those of The Four Hundred that were most opposite to such a form of government, and the principal of them, both Phrynichus, who had been general at Samos and was ever since at difference with Alcibiades, and Aristarchus, a man that had been an adversary to the people both in the greatest manner and for the longest time, and Pisander and Antiphon, and others of the greatest power, not only formerly, as soon as they entered into authority and afterwards when the state at Samos revolted to the people, sent ambassadors to Lacedaemon and bestirred themselves for the oligarchy, and built a wall in the place called Eetioneia; but much more afterwards, when their ambassadors were come from Samos and that they saw not only the populars but also some others of their own party, thought trusty before, to be now changed.

[2] And to Lacedaemon they sent Antiphon and Phrynichus with ten others with all possible speed, as fearing their adversaries both at home and at Samos, with commission to make a peace with the Lacedaemonians on any tolerable conditions whatsoever or howsoever; and in this time went on with the building of the wall in Eetioneia with greater diligence than before.

[3] The scope they had in this wall, as it was given out by Theramenes, [the son of Agnon], was not so much to keep out those of Samos in case they should attempt by force to enter into Peiraeus as at their pleasure to be able to let in both the galleys and the land forces of the enemies.

[4] For this Eetioneia is the pier of the Peiraeus, close unto which is the mouth of the haven. And therefore they built this wall so to another wall that was built before to the continent that a few men lying within it might command the entrance. For the end of each wall was brought to the tower upon the [very] mouth of the haven, as well of the old wall towards the continent as of the new which was built within it to the water.

[5] They built also an open ground-gallery, an exceeding great one and close to their new wall within Peiraeus, and were masters of it, and constrained all men as well to bring thither their corn which they had already come in, as to unload there whatsoever should come in afterward, and to take and sell it from thence.

[1] Meanwhile the leaders and members of the Four Hundred most opposed to a democratic form of government—Phrynichus who had had the quarrel with Alcibiades during his command at Samos , Aristarchus the bitter and inveterate enemy of the commons, and Pisander and Antiphon and others of the chiefs who already as soon as they entered upon power, and again when the army at Samos seceded from them and declared for a democracy, had sent envoys from their own body to Lacedaemon and made every effort for peace, and had built the wall in Eetionia,—now redoubled their exertions when their envoys returned from Samos , and they saw not only the people but their own most trusted associates turning against them.

[2] Alarmed at the state of things at Athens as at Samos , they now sent off in haste Antiphon and Phrynichus and ten others with injunctions to make peace with Lacedaemon upon any terms, no matter what, that should be at all tolerable.

[3] Meanwhile they pushed on more actively than ever with the wall in Eetionia. Now the meaning of this wall, according to Theramenes and his supporters, was not so much to keep out the army of Samos in case of its trying to force its way into Piraeus as to be able to let in, at pleasure, the fleet and army of the enemy.

[4] For Eetionia is a mole of Piraeus , close alongside of the entrance of the harbour, and was now fortified in connection with the wall already existing on the land side, so that a few men placed in it might be able to command the entrance; the old wall on the land side and the new one now being built within on the side of the sea, both ending in one of the two towers standing at the narrow mouth of the harbour.

[5] They also walled off the largest porch in Piraeus which was in immediate connection with this wall, and kept it in their own hands, compelling all to unload there the corn that came into the harbour, and what they had in stock, and to take it out from thence when they sold it.

Hingegen hatten diejenigen unter den Vierhundert', welche
einer solchen Gestaltung der Verhältnisse am meisten feindselig waren
und jetzt die oberste Leitung in Händen hatten, — PhrynichoS
nämlich, welcher damals als Feldherr aus Samos sich mit dem Alkibiades
zerworfen hatte, und AristarchoS, einer der entschiedensten und
erbittertsten Gegner der Demokratie, und Peisandros und Antiphon und
Andere der Vornehmsten, —, schon früher unmittelbar nach ihrem
Regierungsantritt und als die auf Samos zur Demokratie
übertraten, Abgesandte nach Lakedämon geschickt und eifrig eine
Aussöhnung erstrebt und auch , das Kastell in der sogenannten Eetioneiä
gebaut,'—und jetzt, da ihre Gesandten von Samos zurückgekehrt
waren und sie auch den größten Theil ihrer für treu ergeben
gehaltenen Anhänger, umschlagen, sahen, betrieben sie daS Alles noch.viel
entschlossener. Den.Antiphon und PhrynichoS mit noch zehn Andern
schickten sie in ihrer Furcht vor den Zuständen in Athen.und auf
Samos in aller Eile nach Sparta/und trugen ihnen auf, unter jeder
nur irgendwie annehmbaren Bedingung mit den Lakedämoniern einen
Vergleich abzuschließen, und betrieben unterdeß den Bau in der
Eetiöneia noch viel eifriger. Ihre Absicht bei diesem Festungsbau war,
wie Theramenes und seine Partei sagten, keineswegs die, im Stande
zu sein, die von Samos, wenn sie einen gewaltsamen Angriff
versuchen sollten, am Einlaufen in den Piräeus verhindern zu können,
sondern vielmehr die Feinde, wenn eS ihnen beliebte, mit Land- und
Seemacht aufzunehmen. Die Eetioneia ist nämlich der Hafendamm
des Piräeus, und unmittelbar bei demselben ist die Einfahrt. Der ¹
Bau auf diesem Damm wurde nun mit der schon vorher auf dem
Festlande gezogenen Mauer in der Art verbunden, daß man mit einer
Besatzung von einer Handvoll Leuten die Einfahrt beherrschte. Denn
bei dem einen der beiden Thürme an der engen Hafeneinfahrt endigte
sich die alte Mauer nach dem Festland und zugleich auch die neue,
innerhalb am Meer aufgebaute. Sie bauten daselbst auch ein
gischlossenes Lagerhaus von sehr großem Umfang und unmittelbar bei
dieser Befestigung im Piräeus, dessen Verwaltung sie selbst
vorstanden. Sie nöthigten nämlich Jeden, alles vorhandene oder zugeführte
Getreide in dasselbe zu bringen und eS beim Verkauf wieder aus
demselben zu entnehmen.

Diejenigen aber unter den Vierhundert, welche von einer
solchen Verfassungsänderung am wenigsten wissen wollten und
an der Spitze tsanden, Phrynichos, der damals als Feldherr
in Samos gegen Alkibiades aufgetreten war, Aristarchos, schon
immer einer der entschiedensten Gegner der Volkspartei, und
andere besonders einflußreiche Männer, hatten schon früher,
gleich nachdem sie zur Herrschaft gelangt und die Truppen in
Samos ins demokratische Lager übergegangen waren, Gesandte
nach Lakedämon geschickt, um über den Frieden zu verhandeln,
auch mit dem Bau von Festungswerken auf Eetioneia begonnen.
Nach Rückkehr ihrer Gesandten trieben sie das alles nur um
so eifriger, da sie so viele und selbst solche ihrer bisherigen
Anhänger, deren sie völlig sicher zu sein glaubten, die Farbe
wechseln sahen. Aus Furcht vor den ihnen in Athen und
von Samos drohenden Gefahren schickten sie Antiphon und
Phrynichos mit zehn anderen eiligst nach Lakedämon mit der
Weisung, unter allen Umständen ein allenfalls erträgliches
Abkommen mit den Lakedämoniern zu treffen. Auch an den
Festungswerken auf Eetioneia ließen sie jetzt noch eifriger
arbeiten. Die aber sollten, wie Theramenes und seine Ge­
sinnungsgenossen behaupteten, gar nicht dazu dienen, die Flotte
von Samos im Falle eines Angriffs auf den Peiraieus au
der Einfahrt zu hindern, sondern um feindliche Schiffe und
Truppen jederzeit nach Belieben dort aufnehmen zu können.
Eetioneia ist nämlich eine vorspringende Landspitze am Ein­
gange des Peiraieus, und das Fahrwasser führt unmittelbar
daran vorbei. Die dort neu angelegten Werke aber wurden
dergestalt mit der auf der Landseite schon bisher vorhandenen
Mauer verbunden, daß man nur eine geringe Besatzung hinein­
zulegen brauchte, um die Einfahrt zu beherrshcen. Denn grade
bei dem einen der beiden Türme an der engen Hafenmündung
endete sowohl die alte Mauer von der Landseite her als auch
die neue, an der See angelegte, nach innen. Dazwischen er­
bauten sie im Orte eine sich unmittelbar an sie schließende
geräumige Schranne, die sie selbst in Betrieb nahmen, und
zwangen alle, ihr schon angebrachtes oder künftig einzuführendes
Getreide darin auszuladen und von dort in den Handel zu
bringen.

XC. Ceux des quatre cents qui étaient le plus opposés à cette forme politique et qui avaient la haute direction des affaires, Phrynichos, autrefois adversaire d’Alcibiade, lors de son commandement à Samos, Aristarchos, depuis longtemps l’ennemi le plus déclaré de la démocratie, Antiphon et quelques autres des chefs les plus puissants, avaient précédemment envoyé à Lacédémone des députés pris parmi eux, aussitôt après la révolution. Lorsque Samos se fut insurgée contre eux en faveur de la démocratie, ils en firent partir d’autres, donnèrent tous leurs soins au maintien de l’oligarchie et se mirent à élever un fort au lieu nommé Éétionée. Ils redoublèrent d’activité, lorsqu’après le retour des ambassadeurs qu’ils avaient envoyés à Samos, ils virent le changement qui s’opérait dans la multitude et chez ceux des leurs qu’ils croyaient auparavant dévoués. Inquiets et à l’intérieur et du côté de ¹ Samos, ils envoyèrent sur-le-champ à Lacédémone Antiphon, Phrynichos et dix autres députés, avec mission de ménager un accommodement avec les Lacédémoniens, à quelque prix que ce fût, pour peu que les conditions fussent tolérables. Ils pressèrent encore plus la construction du mur d’Éétionée. L’objet de ce mur, au dire de Théramènes et de ses adhérents, n’était pas de fermer l’entrée duPirée à l’armée de Samos, si elle venait l’attaquer de vive force, mais plutôt de favoriser, quand on le voudrait, l’admission des ennemis par terre et par mer. En effet, Éétionée forme dans le Pirée une saillie le long de laquelle se trouve immédiatement l’entrée du port : on éleva donc une muraille reliée à celle existant précédemment du côté de la terre ferme, de telle sorte qu’un petit nombre d’hommes placés entre deux pût commander l’entrée du port ² ; car l’ancien mur du côté de la terre ferme, et le nouveau, le mur intérieur ³ , élevé du côté de la mer ⁴ , aboutissaient tous les deux à l’une des tours situées à l’entrée du port, qui est étroit. On éleva aussi dans le Pirée une immense galerie distincte du nouveau mur, mais presque immédiatement contiguë; les quatre cents en disposaient seuls. Chacun fut tenu d’y déposer le blé qu’il pouvait avoir et celui qui arrivait par ^{5 6 7} mer ⁸ ; c’était de là qu’on devait le tirer pour le mettre en vente.

[1] But those of the Four Hundred who were most opposed to such a course—the leading spirits like Phrynichus, who had been general at Samos and had then quarrelled with Alcibiades, ¹ and Aristarchus, a man who had been conspicuously and for the longest time opposed to the democracy, and Peisander, ² Antiphon, ³ and other men of the greatest influence—before this time, that is, as soon as they were established in power and then when the army at Samos had revolted from them in favour of a democratic form of government, had been sending ambassadors of their own to Lacedaemon ⁴ and making earnest efforts to come to an understanding, and had also been constructing their fort in the place called Eetioneia; and now far more than ever, when their ambassadors returned from Samos, did they bestir themselves, seeing that not only the majority of the people but also men of their own party who had before been esteemed trustworthy were changing their views.

[2] So they despatched Antiphon, Phrynichus, and ten others in all haste, since they were alarmed by the situation both at home and at Samos, enjoining upon them to effect a reconciliation with the Lacedaemonians on any terms that would be at all tolerable.

[3] And they set to work with greater zeal than ever building their fort at Eetioneia. ⁵ And the purpose of this fort was, as Theramenes and his adherents said, not that they might prevent the Samian fleet from entering the Peiraeus in case they should attempt to force their way in, but rather that they might admit the enemy whenever they wished with both his army and fleet. For Eetioneia is a mole extending out from the Peiraeus, and immediately beside it is the entrance to the harbour.

[4] It was therefore being connected by a wall with the wall which already existed somewhat inland, and in such a way that if only a few men were stationed inside it would control the entrance; for both the old wall running inland and the new inner wall that was being built facing the sea came to an end in the second of the two towers, the one that lay exactly at the mouth of the harbour, which was narrow.

[5] They also cut off with a wall inside the harbour a portico which was very large and immediately adjoined this inland wall; and this they controlled themselves, and compelled everybody to deposit in it the corn that was already on hand as well as to discharge there that which came in by sea, and to take it from there if they wished to sell it.

[1] But those of the Four Hundred who were most opposed to such a form of government, and who now took the lead, namely, Phrynichus, (who when general at Samos had quarrelled, as already mentioned, with Alcibiades;) and Aristarchus, a man in the highest degree and for the longest opposed to democracy; and Pisander, and Antiphon, and others who were most influential, had before—as soon as they were established in power, and afterwards, when the forces at Samos revolted from them for a democracy—sent members of their body as ambassadors to Lacedaemon, and been very anxious for peace with them, and been engaged in building the fort in what is called ¹ Eetionia. And far more than ever was this the case, after their ambassadors from Samos had arrived; seeing, as they did, that both the majority of the people, and those of their own members, who before appeared trustworthy, were now changing their views.

[2] And so they despatched Antiphon, Phrynichus, and ten others with all speed, (for they were afraid of what was going on both at home and at Samos,) with instructions to make terms with the Lacedaemonians in any way whatever that was at all tolerable.

[3] And they worked with still greater earnestness at the fort in Eetionia. Now the object of the fort, as Theramenes and his party maintained, was this; not that they might avoid admitting the army at Samos into the Piraeus, should they attempt to sail in by force; but rather that they might admit the enemy, whenever they pleased, both with ships and troops. For Eetionia is a mole of the Piraeus, and the entrance into the harbour is straight by it.

[4] It was being fortified therefore in such a manner, in connexion with the wall previously existing on the land side, that, with only a few men posted in it, it would command the entrance. For in the very tower standing on one of the two sides, at the mouth of the harbour, which was narrow, was the termination both of the original wall on the land side, and of the new and inner one which was being built on the side of the sea.

[5] They also built a portico, which was very large and in immediate connexion with this wall in the Piraeus; of which they themselves had the command, and in which they compelled all to deposit both what corn they had before and what was now brought in, and to take it out thence when they sold it.

[1] Sed quadringenti viri huic reipublicae formae maxime adversantes, et eorum principes, Phrynichus, qui etiam imperator fuerat Sami [quondam] et cum Alcibiade ante, ut dixi, discordiam habuerat, et Aristarchus, qui in primis et ex longissimo tempore status popularis adversarius erat, et Pisander et Antiphon, et alii potentissimi, et antea, ut primum in dominatu constituti sunt, et tunc, postquam exercitus Samius ab iis deficiens ad statura popularem rediit, legatos de suo corpore Lacedsemonem miltebanl, et paci componendae operam studiose dabant, et murum iu Eetionia, quae vocatur, excitabant, idque etiam multo inagis, postquam etiam legati sui Samo redierunt, quia videbant, et ipsam plebem, et ex suis eos, qui prius fidi esse videhantdr, animos mutare.

[2] Et miserunt quidem propere Antiphontem et Phrynichum et alios decem, quod et de rebus urbanis et de Samiis metuebant, cum mandatis, ut quavis ratione, quae vel aliquo modo tolerabilis esset, cum Lacedaemoniis reconciliarentur;

[3] murum autem multo studiosius in Eetionia aedificabant. Erat autem hujus muri consilium boc, ut aiebat Theramenes ejusque socii, non, ut eos, qui Sami erant, si per vim cum infesta classe venirent, in Piraeeum non reciperent, sed potius ut hostium, quoties vellent, et classem et peditatum reciperent.

[4] Nam Eetionia est Piraeei promontorium, et juxta ipsam statim est navium introitus. Struebatur igitur sic cum eo muro, qui jam prius continentem versus exstructus erat, ut pauci homines illic stationem habentes navium introitus arbitri essent; nam ad ipsam alteram turrim in angusti portus ostio sitam terminabatur et murus antiquus continentem versus, et novus, qui intra eum mare versus exstruebatur.

[5] Inter utrumque vero exstruxerunt etiam porticum, quae erat maxima et huic alteri proxima, statim eum excipiens intra Piraeeum, et eam ipsi in sua potestate retinebant, in quam cogebant omnes suum frumentum exponere, tam id, quod jam aderat, quam id quod mari advehebatur, illincque promentes venumdare.

Quelli però tra i quattrocento che erano graudissimamente avversi a tal forma di governo, e che avevano maggiore autorità, come Frinico, il quale anche nel tempo del suo generalato a Samo avea contrariato Alcibiade, ed Aristarco uno dc’più accaniti ed invecchiati nemici del popolo, e Pisandro ed Anlifonte ed altri de più potenti, già fin da prima appena essi furono assunti al governo, e poi quando i fautori che aveano a Samo passarono alla democrazia , spedivano a Sparta ambasciatori del loro numero ; e si davano ogni cura pel reggimento oligarchico ; e costruivano un muro nel sito chiamato Etionea. Le quali cose con sollecitudine anche maggiore facevano, dopo che .per i loro ambasciatori tornati da Samo ebbero compreso che la plebe e quelli che prima sembravano fedeli avean mutato mantello. E temendo delle cose d’Atene e di Samo spedirono prestamente Antifonte e Frinico con altri dieci , ordinando loro di accomodarsi co’ Lacedemoni in qualunque modo si fosse tollerabile, e con premura più grande edificavano il muro di Etionea. La loro intenzione nel fabbricar questo muro era (come diceva Teramene e quelli della sua parte) non d’impedire ai soldati di Samo l’entrata nel Pireo, qualora venissero ad assaltarlo colla flotta ; ma piuttosto di ricevervi dentro i nemici colle navi e coi fanti, quando loro piacesse ; imperciocché Etionea é come iin gomito del Pireo , e presso di lei si trova l’ingresso delle navi. Attaccavano adunque questo muro all’altro che vi era di prima e che guardava terraferma ; in modo che con poche genti le quali vi stessero sopra f erano padroni dell’ ingresso ; perchè il muro vecchio verso terraferma , e dalla parte interna il muro nuovo che andava al mare, terminavano entrambi ad una delle due torri sulla bocca del porto che è angusto. Edificarono inoltre una grandissima loggia che si estendeva immediatamente nella maggior vicinanza a questo muro nel Pireo ; e di essa erano eglino i padroni, ed astringevano tutti a scaricarvi il grano del paese e quello die veniva dalla parte del mare, ed a cavarlo di lì per venderlo.