Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.92

[1] About the same time the Peloponnesians erected the colony of Heracleia in Trachinia with this intention. The Melians in the whole contain these three parts:

[2] Paralians, Hierans, and Trachinians. Of these the Trachinians, being afflicted with war from the Oetaeans their borderers, thought at first to have joined themselves to the Athenians; but fearing that they would not be faithful to them, they sent to Lacedaemon, choosing for their ambassador Tisamenus.

[3] And the Dorians, who are the mother nation to the Lacedaemonians, sent their ambassadors likewise with him with the same requests; for they also were infested with war from the same Oetaeans.

[4] Upon audience of these ambassadors the Lacedaemonians concluded to send out a colony, both intending the reparation of the injuries done to the Trachinians and to the Dorians and conceiving withal that the town would stand very commodiously for their war with the Athenians, inasmuch as they might thereby have a navy ready, where the passage was but short, against Euboea; and it would much further their conveyance of soldiers into Thrace. And they had their mind wholly bent to the building of the place. First, therefore, they asked counsel of the oracle in Delphi.

[5] And the oracle having bidden them do it, they sent inhabitants thither, both of their own people and of the neighbours about them, and gave leave also to any that would to go thither out of the rest of Greece, save only to the Ionians, Achaeans, and some few other nations. The conductors of the colony were three Lacedaemonians, Leon, Alcidas, and Damagon.

[6] Who, taking it in hand, built the city which is now called Heracleia from the very foundation, being distant from Thermopylae forty furlongs and from the sea twenty. Also they made houses for galleys to lie under, beginning close to Thermopylae against the very strait, to the end to have them the more defensible.

[1] About this time the Lacedaemonians founded their colony of Heraclea in Trachis , their object being the following.

[2] The Malians form in all three tribes, the Paralians, the Hiereans, and the Trachinians. The last of these having suffered severely in a war with their neighbors the Oetaeans, at first intended to give themselves up to Athens ; but afterwards fearing not to find in her the security that they sought, sent to Lacedaemon , having chosen Tisamenus for their ambassador.

[3] In this embassy joined also the Dorians from the mother country of the Lacedaemonians, with the same request, as they themselves also suffered from the same enemy.

[4] After hearing them, the Lacedaemonians determined to send out the colony, wishing to assist the Trachinians and Dorians, and also because they thought that the proposed town would lie conveniently for the purposes of the war against the Athenians. A fleet might be got ready there against Euboea , with the advantage of a short passage to the island; and the town would also be useful as a station on the road to Thrace . In short, everything made the Lacedaemonians eager to found the place.

[5] After first consulting the god at Delphi and receiving a favorable answer, they sent off the colonists, Spartans and Perioeci, inviting also any of the rest of the Hellenes who might wish to accompany them, except Ionians, Achaeans, and certain other nationalities; three Lacedaemonians leading as founders of the colony, Leon, Alcidas, and Damagon.

[6] The settlement effected, they fortified anew the city, now called Heraclea , distant about four miles and a half from Thermopylae and two miles and a quarter from the sea, and commenced building docks, closing the side towards Thermopylae just by the pass itself, in order that they might be easily defended.

Um diese Zeit gründeten die Lakedämonier im Trachinischen
Lande die Ansiedelung Heraklea in der Absicht, wie folgt. Der
Melier insgesammt sind drei Stämme: die Paralier, Hiereer und
Trachimer. Von diesen wurden die Trachinier durch die gränzanwohnenden
Oetäer in kriegerischen Anfällen fast vernichtet und wollten sich nun
zuerst unter den Schutz der Athener stellen, dann aber fürchteten sie,
diesen doch nicht trauen zu dürfen, und schickten darum nach
Lakedämon , zum Gesandten wählend den Tisamenos. Mit ihnen ging auch
eine Gesandtschaft der Dorier aus dem spartanischen Mutterlands,
mit demselben Anliegen, denn auch sie wurden von den Oetäern hart
bedrängt. Als die Lakedämonier sie angehört, faßten sie Beschluß,
dort eine Pflanzstadt zu gründen, um den Trachiniern und den
Doriern Sicherheit zu vershcaffen. Zugleich schien es ihnen, daß es für
den Krieg mit den Athenern sehr passend sei, die Stadt dort anzu­ ¹
legen, denn man könne dort eine Flotte gegen Euböa ausrüsten und ²
auf kurzem Wege überfahren, und man habe dort auch zum eigenen
Vortheil den Weg nach Thrakien in der Hand. Kurz, es trieben sie
viele Gründe, sich im Lande anzusiedeln. Zuerst nun fragten sie den
Gott in Delphi, und da dieser ermunterte, schickten sie Ansiedler aus
ihrer eigenen Mitte und aus ihren Beisitzern und forderten auch von
den andern Hellenen zum Anschluß auf, wer wolle, ausgenommen die
Jonier und Achäer und einige andere Völkerschaften. Als Gründer
standen an der Spitze drei Lakedämonier, Leon und Alkidas und
Damagon. Die also setzten sich dort fest und gaben der Stadt neue
Mauern. Jetzt heißt sie Heraklea und liegt von den Thermopylen
ungefähr vierzig Stadien weit ab und vom Meere zwanzig.
Schiffswerften legten sie auch an und begannen damit im Engpaß der
Thermopylen selbst, damit sie um so leichter zu vertheidigen wären ^).

XCII. Vers le même temps, les Lacédémoniens fondèrent la colonie d’Héraclée, en Trachinie ¹ : voici dans quel but : toute la population de Mélos se divise en trois parties, les Paraliens, les Hiériens et les Trachiniens. Ces derniers, poussés à bout par la guerre que leur faisaient les oetéens, leurs voisins, étaient tout d’abord disposés à s’unir aux Athéniens ; mais, craignant de ne pas les trouver fidèles, ils envoyèrent une ambassade à Lacédémone : Tisamène fut chargé de cette mission. Les Doriens, métropolitains des Lacédémoniens, se joignirent à cette députation pour faire la même de- mande, car ils étaient aussi harcelés par les oetéens. Les Lacédémoniens, après les avoir entendus, conçurent le dessein d’envoyer une colonie pour défendre à la fois les Trachiniens et les Doriens. L’emplacement d’Héraclée leur semblait d’ailleurs très convenablement choisi, en vue de la guerre contre les Athéniens ; car on pourrait y équiper contre l’Eubée une flotte qui n’aurait qu’un court trajet à faire ; cette ville d’ailleurs devait être avantageusement située sur la route de Thrace : aussi étaient-ils impatients de faire cet éta- blissement. En conséquence ils consultèrent d’abord l’oracle de Delphes, et, sur sa réponse favorable, ils envoyèrent des colons, tant de la Laconie que des pays voisins ; ils autorisèrent aussi ceux des autres Grecs qui le voudraient à s’adjoindre à eux, à l’exception des peuples de race ionienne ou achéenne, et de quelques autres ² . Trois Lacédémoniens présidèrent à la fondation de la colonie, Léon, Alcidas et Damagon. Rendus sur les lieux ils fortifièrent à nouveau la ville, qui porte maintenant le nom d’Héraclée. Elle est à quarante stades des Thermopyles et à vingt de la mer ³ . Ils disposèrent un chantier maritime, et firent les premiers travaux du côté des Thermopyles, dans le défilé même, afin que l’établissement fût plus facile à défendre.

Vers la même époque, les Lacédémoniens fondèrent la colonie d’Héraclée en Trachinie ; voici à quelle occasion. Les Maliens ¹ sont divisés en trois branches, savoir les Paraliens, les Hiéréens et les Trachiniens. Ceux-ci, écrasés par la guerre que leur faisaient leurs voisins du mont OEta, avaient d’abord songé à se donner aux Athéniens ; mais ensuite, craignant de ne pas trouver auprès d’eux tout l’appui désirable, ils, envoyèrent Tisaménos à Lacédémone en qualité d’ambassadeur. Les Doriens, mère patrie des Lacédémoniens, se joignirent à cette députation pour appuyer la demande ; ils étaient eux-mêmes inquiétés par les OEtéens. En conséquence, les Lacédémoniens résolurent d’envoyer une colonie pour protéger à la fois les Trachiniens et les Doriens. La place leur semblait avantageusement située pour la guerre contre les Athéniens ; on pouvait y construire des vaisseaux et menacer l’Eubée, qui n’est séparée que par un bras de mer ; enfin elle devait leur faciliter le passage en Thrace ² . Pour ces divers motifs, ils entreprirent avec ardeur cet établissement. Ils consultèrent l’oracle de Delphes ; et, sur sa réponse favorable, ils envoyèrent des colons tirés de leur sçin ou de leurs Périèques; ils invitèrent à s’y joindre tous ceux des Grecs qui le voudraient, excepté toutefois les Ioniens, les Achéens et quelques autres peuples. Trois Lacédémoniens, Léon, Alcidas et Damagon, eurent la direction de cette colonie. Arrivés sur les lieux, ils rebâtirent les murailles de la ville, qui porte aujourd’hui le nom d’Héraclée. Elle est située à quarante stades des Thermopyles et à vingt de la mer. Ils y construisirent des chantiers, qu’ils commencèrent au défilé même des Thermopyles, afin de pouvoir les protéger plus facilement.

[1] It was about this time that the Lacedaemonians established Heracleia, their colony in Trachinia, with the following object in view.

[2] The people of Malia, considered as a whole, consist of three divisions, Paralians, Hiereans, and Trachinians. Of these the Trachinians, after they had been ruined in war by their neighbours the Oetaeans, at first intended to attach themselves to the Athenians, but, fearing that these might not be loyal, sent to Lacedaemon, choosing Teisamenus as their envoy.

[3] And envoys from Doris, the mother city of the Lacedaemonians, also took part in the embassy, making the same request, for they too were being ruined by the Oetaeans.

[4] After hearing their appeal, the Lacedaemonians were of the opinion that they should send out the colony, wishing to aid both the Trachinians and the Dorians. At the same time, the site of the proposed city seemed to them well adapted for carrying on the war against Athens; for a fleet could be equipped there for an attack upon Euboea and the crossing thus made from a short distance away, and the place would also be useful for expeditions along the coast towards Thrace. In short, they were eager to found the settlement.

[5] They therefore first consulted the god at Delphi, and at his bidding sent out the colonists, consisting of both Spartans and Perioeci, ¹ and they invited any other Hellenes who so desired to accompany them, except Ionians and Achaeans and certain other races. The founders of the colony in charge of the expedition were three Lacedaemonians, Leon, Alcidas, and Damagon.

[6] When they had established themselves they built a new wall about the city, which is now called Heracleia, and is about forty stadia distant from Thermopylae and twenty from the sea. They then proceeded to build dockyards, and in order that the place might be easy to guard fenced off the approach on the side toward Thermopylae by a wall across the pass itself.

[1] About this time the Lacedaemonians prepared to found their colony of Heraclea, in Trachiniae, with the following purpose.

[2] The Melians form, in all, three tribes, the Paralians, Hiereans, and Trachinians. Of these, the Trachinians, having been reduced to great weakness by the Aetaeans, who border on them, intended at first to give themselves up to the Athenians; but afterwards, fearing that they could not be trusted by them, they sent to Lacedaemon, having chosen Tisamenus as their envoy.

[3] They were joined in the embassy by the Dorians also, the mother-state of the Lacedaemonians, with the same petition; for they, too, were much injured by the Aetaeans.

[4] On hearing their request, the Lacedaemonians determined to send out this colony, from a wish to assist both the Trachinians and the Dorians. Besides, they thought the town would be placed advantageously for them with respect to the war with the Athenians; for a fleet might be equipped so as to have a short passage to Euboea, and it would be useful for marching to Thrace. Indeed on all accounts they were anxious to found the place. They first consulted therefore the god at Delphi;

[5] and on his advising them to do it, they despatched the settlers, taken both from their own citizens and from the Perioeci, and gave permission to any of the rest of the Greeks that wished to accompany them, except Ionians, Achaeans, and some other races. Three of the Lacedaemonians led them as founders of the colony, Leon, Alcidas, and Damagon.

[6] When they had established themselves in the country, they fortified anew the city which is now called Heraclea, distant about forty stades from Thermopylae, and twenty from the sea. They also provided themselves with docks, beginning to build the at Thermopylae, just by the pass, that they might the more easily be defended by them.

[1] Sub hoc ipsum tempus Lacedaemonii Heracleam, quae est in agro Trachinio, missa colonia condiderunt, hac de causa.

[2] Melienses in tres partes universi distinguuntur, in Paralios, Hierenses, Trachinios; ex his autem Trachinii ab (Etaeis finitimis bello attriti initio quidem se ipsos Atheniensibus adjungere statuerant; sed veriti, ne illi parum fideles sibi essent, Tisamenum legatum elegerunt, quem Lacedaemonem miserunt.

[3] Cum ipsis autem et Dorienses , quae est Lacedaemoniorum metropolis, legatos mittebant , ut idem peterent; nam ab (Etaeis et ipsi vexabantur.

[4] Lacedaemonii autem his auditis, in animo habebant coloniam emittere, quod et Trachiniis et Doriensibus opem ferre vellent. Simul etiam haec urbs ad bellum adversus Athenienses gerendum in loco opportuno sita esse ipeis videbatur ; nam et adversus Euboeam ibi classem parari posse, ubi trajectus brevis esset, et ad transitum in Thraciam usui futuram. Et omnino studio ferebantur ad oppidum illud condendum.

[5] Itaque primum quidem deum, qui Delphis est, consuluerunt; quum autem ille jussisset, colonos et ex se ipsis et ex municipibus suis, et reliquorum etiam Graecorum quisquis vellet, sequi jubebant, exceptis Ionibus et Achaeis, et nonnullis aliis gentibus. Duces autem coloniae tres ex Lacedaemoniis fuerunt, Leo et Alcidae et Damagon.

[6] Quum autem eo pervenissent, urbem a fundamentis de-nuo excitatam muro cinxerunt, quae nunc Heraclea vocatur, quadraginta ferme stadiorum spatio a Thermopylis, et viginti a mari distans. Navaliaque praeparaverunt, eaque juxta Thermopylas ad ipsas earum angustias facere coeperunt, ut ea facile tueri possent.

[1] So wenig geben wir uns Täuschungen hin über unser wahres Interesse. Und wer könnte euch auch ausser dem Eide eine festere Bürgschaft bieten, als diejenigen, deren Handlungen nach ihren Versprechungen beurtheilt zu dem Schlusse nöthigen, dass ihre Zusagen mit ihrem Vortheil zusammenfallen? Solltet ihr jedoch meinem Ansinnen euer Unvermögen entgegenhalten, dabei aber doch Schonung ansprechen von denen, die ihr von euch stosst; die Freiheit sei für euch zu gefahrlich, man solle sie nur denen anbieten, die sie auch anzunehmen im Stande seien und sie keinem wider seineu Willen aufdrängen, so werde ich die Götter und Heroen des Landes zu Zeugen aufrufen, dass meine redlichen Absichten verkannt werden, und werde zu Zwangsmitteln greifen und euer Land verheeren. Die Schuld ist fortan nicht auf mir, den eine doppelte Notwendigkeit mehr als genug entschuldigt. Sollen die Lacedämonier, wenn ihr nicht beitreten werdet, von eurer Feindschaft den Schaden haben und eure Geldmittel den Athem zufliessen lassen? Oder sollt ihr die Befreiung Griechenlands aus seiner Knechtschaft hintertreiben dürfen? Denn freilich ohne den Rechtsgrund eines (grossen) vaterländischen Interesses dürften wir nicht so verfahren ¹ , noch würde sich Sparta berufen fühlen, ein widerstrebendes Volk zu befreien. Ja wenn wir nach Herrschaft trachteten; allein wir streben vielmehr, dem Herrscherwesen ein Ende zu machen, so dass es Unrecht an der Mehrzahl wäre, wenn wir im Bewustsein, der Welt die Freiheit zu bringen, euer Widerstreben duldeten. Erwäget dies wohl und schätzet euch glücklich, zu eurem unvergänglichen Ruhme den ersten Grundstein für Griechenlands Befreiung zu legen, was euch die Verwüstung der eigenen Habe ersparen und der Stadt den gefeiertsten Namen erwerben wird.

Circa il medesimo tempo gli Spartani fondarono la colonia di Eraclea nella Trachinia con quest’intenzione. Tutti i Meliesi sono divisi in tre parti , Paralii, Jerei e Trachinii. Or tra questi gli ultimi, afflitti dalla guerra degli Etei loro confinanti, erano stati da principio sul punto di unirsi agli Ateniesi ; se non che poi temendo che non sarebbero fedeli eleggono Tisameno ambasciatore per a Sparta. Unironsi a questa ambasceria i Doriesi, che sono la città madre degli Spartani, per richiederli delle medesime cose, perocché si trovavano aneli’essi travagliati dalla guerra degli Etei. Gli Spartani udito dò presero il partito di spedirvi colonia, intendendo di soccorrere i Trachinii e i Dori, ed insieme giudicando' che la città sarebbe opportunamente situata per la guerra contro gli Ateniesi ; perchè vi si potrebbe allestire una flotta quasi addosso all’Eubea, sicché breve ne fosse il tragitto; e potrebbe esser vantaggiosa per passar nella

Tracia. Insomma erano tutti intesi a fabbricare questa città. Però prima di tutto consultarono l’oracolo di Delfo, il quale avendo acconsentito, vi mandarono ad abitarla gente di loro stessi e de’ circonvicini : ed invitavano qualunque degli altri Greci cui piacesse seguirli, fuori che gli Achei , gli Ionii e qualche altra gente. Furono capi di quella colonia tre dei Lacedemoni, Leone , Alrida e Damagone, i quali giunti colà fabbricarono sino dalle fondamenta la città che ora ha nome Eradea, distante dalle Termopile circa quaranta stadi, e venti dal mare; e prepararono arsenali cominciandone l’edifizio alle Termopile, propio in su lo stretto, acciò fossero meglio difende voli.