Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.93

[1] Thus the Athenians quickly raised their walls, the structure itself making manifest the haste used in the building.

[2] For the foundation consisteth of stones of all sorts, and those in some places unwrought and as they were brought to the place. Many pillars also taken from sepulchres and polished stones were piled together among the rest. For the circuit of the city was set every way farther out, and therefore hastening they took alike whatsoever came next to hand.

[3] Themistocles likewise persuaded them to build up the rest of Piraeus, for it was begun in the year that himself was archon of Athens, as conceiving the place both beautiful, in that it had three natural havens, and that being now seamen, it would very much conduce to the enlargement of their power.

[4] For he was indeed the first man that dared tell them that they ought to take upon them the command of the sea, and withal presently helped them in the obtaining it.

[5] By his counsel also it was that they built the wall of that breadth about Piraeus which is now to be seen. For two carts carrying stones met and passed upon it one by another. And yet within it there was neither rubbish nor mortar [to fill it up], but it was made all of great stones cut square and bound together with iron and lead. But for height it was raised but to the half, at the most, of what he had intended.

[6] For he would have had it able to hold out the enemy both by the height and breadth, and that a few and the less serviceable men might have sufficed to defend it and the rest have served in the navy.

[7] For principally he was addicted to the sea because, as I think, he had observed that the forces of the king had easier access to invade them by sea than by land, and thought that Piraeus was more profitable than the city above. And oftentimes he would exhort the Athenians that, in case they were oppressed by land, they should go down thither and with their galleys make resistance against what enemy soever.

[8] Thus the Athenians built their walls, and fitted themselves in other kinds, immediately upon the departure of the Persians.

[1] In this way the Athenians walled their city in a little while.

[2] To this day the building shows signs of the haste of its execution; the foundations are laid of stones of all kinds, and in some places not wrought or fitted, but placed just in the order in which they were brought by the different hands; and many columns, too, from tombs and sculptured stones were put in with the rest. For the bounds of the city were extended at every point of the circumference; and so they laid hands on everything without exception in their haste.

[3] Themistocles also persuaded them to finish the walls of Piraeus , which had been begun before, in his year of office as archon; being influenced alike by the fineness of a locality that has three natural harbors, and by the great start which the Athenians would gain in the acquisition of power by becoming a naval people.

[4] For he first ventured to tell them to stick to the sea and forthwith began to lay the foundations of the empire.

[5] It was by his advice, too, that they built the walls of that thickness which can still be discerned round Piraeus , the stones being brought up by two wagons meeting each other. Between the walls thus formed there was neither rubble nor mortar, but great stones hewn square and fitted together, cramped to each other on the outside with iron and lead. About half the height that he intended was finished.

[6] His idea was by their size and thickness to keep off the attacks of an enemy; he thought that they might be adequately defended by a small garrison of invalids, and the rest be freed for service in the fleet.

[7] For the fleet claimed most of his attention. He saw, as I think, that the approach by sea was easier for the king's army than that by land: he also thought Piraeus more valuable than the upper city; indeed, he was always advising the Athenians, if a day should come when they were hard pressed by land, to go down into Piraeus , and defy the world with their fleet.

[8] Thus, therefore, the Athenians completed their wall, and commenced their other buildings immediately after the retreat of the Mede .

Auf diese Weise befestigten die Athener ihre Stadt
innerhalb sehr kurzer Zeit. Auch sieht man dem Bau jetzt noch an/daß er
eilig aufgeführt wurde, denn die Grundmauern sind aus allerlei
Steinen zusammengefügt, hie und da auch aus ganz unbehauenen, wie
sie grade Einer herbeibrachte. Auch viele Säulen von Grabmälern
wurden eingemauert und selbst vom Bildhauer bearbeitete Steine, denn
da die Ringmauer an allen Punkten über den ehemaligen Umfang der
Stadt hinauSgerückt wurde, so schaffte man in'der Eile ohne
Unterschied Alles herbei, was beweglich war." Auch vermochte sie
ThemistokleS, den PeiräeuS völlig auszubauen, wozu schon früher während
seiner einjährigen Regierung als Archont von Athen de? Anfang ¹
gemacht worden war; denn da der Platz drei natürliche Häfen>'5") ^{2 3 4 5}
hatte, so hielt er ihn für überaus geschickt, die Macht der Athener zu
fördern, wenn sie sich erst dem Seewesen ganz gewidmet haben würden.
Themistokles war nämlich der Erste, der eS auszusprechen wagte, daß
man sich an das Meer halten müsse, und er selbst half noch sofort mit
dem Bau den Anfang machen ^). Auf seinen Rath bauten sie auch
die Mauer um den Peiräeus von der Dicke, wie sie noch jetzt zu sehen
ist (indem zwei einander entgegenfahrende Wagen die Steine
herbeischafften Zur Verbindung wurde weder Kalk noch Mörtel
gebraucht, sondern die großen und winkelrecht behauenen Steine wurden
neben und über einander gelegt und von außen durch eiserne
Klammern und Blei US verbunden. Indessen wurde nur die Hälfte der
Höhe erreicht, welche jener beabsichtigte ^6). er hatte gedacht
durch Höhe und Dicke der Mauer allein die Angriffe der Feinde zu
vereiteln, und daß dann eine geringe Zahl selbst der Untauglichsten
zur Besatzung genügen werde, indem alle andern die Schiffe besteigen
sollten. Auf die Flotte hatte er nämlich ein Hauptaugenmerk, weil
er, wie mich dünkt, einsah, daß der Angriff der königlichen Streit-
macht leichter zu Wasser als zu Lande erfolgen könne. Den Peiräeus
hielt er deßhalb auch für wichtiger, als die obere Stadt, und oft redete
er den Athenern zu, wenn sie einmal zu Lande überwunden wären,
sollten sie sich in den Peiräeus hinabziehen und auf ihren Schiffen
Allen die Spitze bieten. Auf diese Weise also kamen die Athener
gleich nach dem Rückzug der Perser zu ihren Mauern und trafen
auch sonst die nöthigen Vorkehrungen.

XCIII. C’est ainsi que les Athéniens fortifièrent leur ville en peu de temps ; aussi reconnaît-on, aujourd’hui encore, que les constructions furent élevées à la hâte : les fondements sont formés de pierres non ap- pareillées, souvent tout à fait brutes, et jetées là au hasard, comme on les apportait ; on trouve même des cippes funéraires et des sculptures mêlés à la maçonnerie. Cela tient à ce que l’enceinte de la ville fut agrandie dans tous les sens et que, dans la précipitation du moment, on mettait tout en oeuvre indistinctement.

Thémistocle persuada aussi de compléter les constructions du Pirée , commencées précédemment, l’année de son archontat ¹ . Le Pirée, avec ses trois ports naturels, lui paraissait d’une grande importance ; car il pensait que les Athéniens trouveraient dans la marine, s’ils s’y adonnaient, de grandes res- sources pour l’accroissement de leur puissance. Il osa le premier dire qu’ils devaient s’adonner à la mer, et tout d’abord il leur en prépara l’empire. C’est d’après ses conseils qu’on donna aux murs qui entourent le Pirée la largeur qu’on leur voit encore aujourd’hui. Deux chariots de pierres y passaient aisément en se croisant. A l’intérieur, il n’y avait ni moellon ni mortier ; il n’entrait dans les constructions que d’énormes blocs de pierre, taillés à angles droits et reliés entre eux extérieurement avec du fer et du plomb. Ils ne furent élevés qu’à la moitié de la hauteur qu’il avait projetée ; car il voulait que leur élévation et leur épaisseur pussent décourager toutes les tentatives des ennemis, et, dans sa pensée, un petit nombre d’hommes, même des moins valides, devaient suffire à les garder, pendant que les autres monteraient sur les vaisseaux. S’il se préoccupait surtout de la marine, c’était dans cette pensée, ce me semble, qu’il serait plus facile à l’armée du roi d’envahir l’Attique par mer que par terre. Le Pirée lui semblait d’ailleurs plus important que la ville haute ; et, bien des fois, il conseilla aux Athéniens, si jamais ils étaient forcés par terre, de descendre au Pirée et d’y lutter sur leurs vaisseaux contre tous leurs ennemis.

C’est ainsi que les Athéniens fortifièrent leur ville et firent toutes leurs dispositions, immédiatement après la retraite des Mèdes.

C'est ainsi que les Athéniens fortifièrent leur ville dans un court espace de temps. L’ouvrage porte encore aujourd’hui des traces de la précipitation avec laquelle il fut exécuté. Les fondements sont en pierres de toute espèce, non appareillées, telles que chacun les apportait. On y fit entrer jusqu’à des colonnes sépulcrales et des marbres sculptés. L’enceinte de la ville fut élargie en tout sens ¹ . L’empressement faisait qu’on remuait tout sans distinction.

Thémistocle persuada aussi d’achever les constructions du Pirée, précédemment commencées pendant l’année de son ar-chontat ² . Cet endroit lui paraissait favorable à cause de ses trois ports naturels ³ ; il pensait que les Athéniens trouveraient dans la marine les moyens de parvenir à une grande puissance. Le premier il osa dire qu’il fallait s’adonner à la mer, et il fit aussitôt mettre la main à l’œuvre. D’après son avis, on donna au mur l’épaisseur qu’on lui voit aujourd’hui autour du Pirée; les pierres étaient apportées par des chariots attachés deux à deux ⁴ ; dans l’intérieur il n’y avait ni blocage ni mortier, mais le mur consistait en grosses pierres de taille, jointes par des crampons defer scellés avec du plomb. La hauteur totale ne fut guère que la moitié de ce que projetait Thémistocle ; il eût voulu que l’élévation et l’épaisseur de ces murailles défiassent tous les assauts, et il pensait que pour la défense il suffirait d’un petit nombre des hommes les moins valides, tandis que les autres monteraient sur les vaisseaux. La grande importance qu’il attachait à la marine venait sans doute de ce qu’il avait reconnu que l’armée du roi avait l’accès plus facile par mer que par terre. A ses yeux, le Pirée était plus essentiel que la ville haute; souvent il conseillait aux Athéniens, s’ils venaient à être pressés sur terre, de descendre au Pirée et de s’y défendre sur leurs navires envers et contre tous.

Ce fut ainsi que les Athéniens élevèrent leurs remparts et les autres constructions, immédiatement après la retraite des Mèdes.

[1] It was in this manner that the Athenians got their wall built in so short a time, and even to-day the structure shows that it was put together in haste. ¹

[2] For the lower courses consist of all sorts of stones, in some cases not even hewn to fit but just as they were when the several workers brought them, and many columns from grave monuments and stones wrought for other purposes were built in. For the circuit-wall of the city was extended in every direction, and on this account they laid hands upon everything alike in their haste.

[3] Themistocles, moreover, persuaded them also to finish the walls of the Peiraeus, a beginning of which had been made during the year in which he was archon of the Athenians; for he considered that the Peiraeus with its three natural harbours ² was a fine site to develop and that to have become a nation of seamen would be a great advantage to the Athenians themselves, with a view to their acquisition of power—

[4] indeed it was he who first dared declare that they must apply themselves to the sea—and so he immediately took the first steps in this undertaking. ³

[5] And following his advice they built the wall round the Peiraeus of the thickness that may still be observed; for two wagons carrying the stones could meet and pass each other. Inside, moreover, there was neither rubble nor mortar, but stones of large size hewn square were closely laid together, bound to one another on the outside with iron clamps and lead.

[6] But the wall was completed to only about half of the height he originally intended, for what he wished was to be able to repel the assaults of the enemy by the very height and thickness of the wall, and he thought that a few men, and these the least effective, would suffice to guard it, while all the rest might man the ships.

[7] For Themistocles devoted himself particularly to the navy, because, as it seems to me, he had observed that the approach of the King's forces was easier by sea than by land; and he thought that the Peiraeus would prove more serviceable than the upper city, and often advised the Athenians, if ever they were hard pressed on land, to go down to the Peiraeus, and resist all their opponents with their fleet.

[8] It was in this way, then, that the Athenians got their walls built, and came to be engaged upon their other fortifications, immediately after the withdrawal of the Persians.

[1] In this way the Athenians walled their city in a short time.

[2] And the building still slows even now that it was executed in haste; for the foundations are laid with stones of all kinds, and in some places not wrought together, but as the several parties at any time brought them to the spot: and many columns from tombs, and wrought stones, were worked up in them. For the enclosure of the city was carried out to a greater extent on every side; and for this reason they hurried on the work, removing every tiling alike.

[3] Themistocles also persuaded them to build the remaining walls of the Piraeus, (they had been begun by him before, at the time of his office as archon, which he had held for a year over the Athenians,) thinking that the site was a fine one, as it contained three natural harbours; and that by becoming a naval people they would make a great advance towards the acquisition of power.

[4] For he was the first who ventured to tell them that they must apply closely to the sea;

[5] and he began immediately to assist in paving the way for their empire. It was by his advice that they built the walls of that thickness which is still seen round the Piraeus; for two waggons meeting each other brought up the stones. And in the inside there was neither rubble nor mortar, but large and square-cut stones wrought together, cramped on the outside with iron and lead. But only about half of the height he intended was finished.

[6] For he wished by their great dimensions and thickness to keep off the attacks of their enemies; and thought that the protection of a few, and those the least efficient troops, would be sufficient, while the rest would go on board their ships.

[7] For to the navy he paid the greatest attention; seeing, I suppose, that the approach of the king's forces against them was easier by sea than by land: and he considered the Piraeus more serviceable than the upper city, and often advised the Athenians, in case of their ever being hard pressed by land, to go down into it, and defy the world with their navy.

[8] Thus then the Athenians were enclosed with walls, and began to furnish themselves with other buildings immediately after the retreat of the Medes.

[1] Hoc igitur modo Athenienses exiguo temporis spatio urbem inuris cinxerunt.

[2] Et ex ipsa murorum structura nunc etiam manifestum est, eos festinanter aedificatos esse; fundamenta enim substrata sunt ci omne genus lapidibus constructa, neque coagmentatis alicubi, sed nt quisque forte eos afferebat; multae etiam columnae ex monumentis detractae, et saxa polita sunt congesta. Ambitus enim murorum ab omni urbis parte major productus est, et propterea omnia pariter moventes festinabant.

[3] Persuasit autem Themistocles, ut etiam Piraeei partes reliquas aedificarent (ejus enim pars aedificari prius est coepta, quo tempore ipse annuum magistratum gerens Athenis praefuit); quia existimabat tum locum illum esse opportunum , qui tres portus natura munitos haberet; tum etiam ipsos, quando rebus nauticis operam dare coepissent, magnopere proficere in acquirenda potentia.

[4] Primus enim ausus est dicere, eos debere maris imperium sibi vindicare, et confestim eos in hoc imperio parando juvare coepit.

[5] Illius etiam sententiam secuti murum ea latitudine exstruxerunt , quae nunc quoque circa Piraeeum exstans apparet; nam duo plaustra per murum occursu adverso saxa portabant; intus vero neque caementum neque lutum erat, sed magna coagmentata saxa et paribus sectionum angulis inter se aptata, extrinsecus ferro plumboque inter se vincta. Altitudo vero ad dimidiam partem ejus, quam animo statuerat, est perducta.

[6] Volebat enim et altitudine et latitudine hostium impetus avertere, hominumque putabat paucorum et infirmissimorum praesidio locum facile custodiri posse, ceteros vero naves conscensuros.

[7] Nam in rem nauticam potissimum incumbebat, quia, ut mea fert opinio, regis Persarum copias mari facilius, quam terra, invadere posse animadverterat; et Piraeeum plus utilitatis, quam superiorem urbem habere putabat, atque adeo saepe hortabatur Athenienses, si forteninquam terra premerentur, ut in eum descenderent, et classe omnibus resisterent.

[8] Athenien- ses igitur hoc modo urbem muris cinxerunt, et cetera exstruebant statim post Medorum discessum.

[1] Diesen Grundsätzen, die wir von unsern Vätern überkommen und selber stets bewährt erfunden haben, lasst uns nicht ungetreu werden und nicht binnen weniger Stunden über so viel Menschenleben und Eigenthum, über Staatenglück und Ehre einen übereilten Beschluss fassen, sondern uns Zeit nehmen. Wir haben den Vortheil der Macht, um nichts zu versäumen. Nach Athen also sendet wegen Potidäas und wegen der Beschwerden der Bundesgenossen, besonders da sie eine gerichtliche Entscheidung nicht ablehnen. Wer diese anbietet, den hat man kein Recht als bereits Verurtheilten anzugreifen. Aber zugleich rüstet euch auch zum Kriege. Dies ist das Beste, was ihr beschliessen könnt, und wird bei dem Feind am meisten Eindruck machen.

Così gli Ateniesi in poco tempo edificarono le mura della città ; e l’edifìzio mostra anche adesso essere stato frettolosamente compito : cotìciossiacliè lo sostengono fondamenta d’ogni maniera di sassi, e in qualche parte non ben commessi, ma alla rinfusa come ciascuno gli portava ; impiegaronvi ancora molte colonnette dei sepolcri e pietre scolpite : perchè, volendo dappertutto dilatare il giro della città , si avacciavano abbattendo ogni cosa senza riguardo. Inoltre Temistocle persuase agli Ateniesi di dar compimento anche alla fabbrica del Pireo già incominciata l' anno che egli fu arconte in Atene ; perocché giudicava quel luogo vantaggioso per i tre porti naturali che presenta ; e perchè ad essi, ove si addessero al mare, riuscirebbe di gran giovamento per avanzare in potenza. Egli il primo osò dire, bisognare applicarsi al mare ; e subito tolse a procacciarne loro l' imperio. Fabbricarono , per suo consiglio, anco il muro intorno al Pireo della grossezza che tuttora si vede, cosicché due carri a riscontro vi portavano i sassi. nell' interno della muraglia non era nè calcina nè loto, ma grandi pietre congegnate, tagliate a canto vivo, e tenute insieme all’esterno con ferro impiombato. Nondimeno l' altezza fu forse condotta alla metà di quanto ei s’era prefisso, sì perchè voleva coll’altezza e grossezza del muro tener lontani gli assalti dei nemici , sì perchè giudicava bastevoli a guardarlo pochi e dei più invalidi, affinchè gli altri montassero sulle navi alle quali erano tutte rivolte le sue cure. Vedeva egli, per mio avviso, che agli eserciti del re restava più facile lo invadere dalla parte di mare che dalla parte di terra ; laonde giudicava il Pireo più importante della rocca della città: e spesso avvertiva gli Ateniesi avessero a scendervi per far sulle navi resistenza a qualunque, se per avventura si trovassero stretti dalla parte di terra. Cosi gli Ateniesi subito dopo la ritirata dei Medi si fortificarono colle mura , e ristaurarono il rimanente della città.