Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.49

[1] This summer were celebrated the Olympian games, in which Androsthenes, an Arcadian, was the first victor in the exercise called Pancratium. And the Lacedaemonians were by the Eleians prohibited the temple there, so as they might neither sacrifice nor contend for the prizes amongst the rest; for that they had not paid the fine set upon them, according to an Olympic law, by the Eleians, that laid to their charge that they had put soldiers into the fort of Phyrcon and into Lepreum in the time of the Olympic truce. The fine amounted unto two thousand minae, which was two minae for every man of arms, according to the law.

[2] But the Lacedaemonians, by their ambassadors which they sent thither, made answer that they had been unjustly condemned, alleging that the truce was not published in Lacedaemon when their soldiers were sent out.

[3] To this the Eleians said again that the truce was already begun amongst themselves, who used to publish it first in their own dominion; and thereupon, whilst they lay still and expected no such matter, as in time of truce, the Lacedaemonians did them the injury unawares.

[4] The Lacedaemonians hereunto replied that it was not necessary to proceed to the publishing of the truce in Lacedaemon at all if they thought themselves wronged already; but rather, if they thought themselves not wronged yet, then to do it by way of prevention, that they should not arm against them afterwards.

[5] The Eleians stood stiffly in their first argument, that they would never be persuaded but injury had been done them, but were nevertheless contented if they would render Lepreum, both to remit their own part of the money and also to pay that part for them which was due unto the god.

[1] At the Olympic games which were held this summer, and in which the Arcadian Androsthenes was victor the first time in the wrestling and boxing, the Lacedaemonians were excluded from the temple by the Eleans, and thus prevented from sacrificing or contending, for having refused to pay the fine specified in the Olympic law imposed upon them by the Eleans, who alleged that they had attacked Fort Phyrcus, and sent heavy infantry of theirs into Lepreum during the Olympic truce. The amount of the fine was two thousand minae, two for each heavy-armed soldier, as the law prescribes.

[2] The Lacedaemonians sent envoys, and pleaded that the imposition was unjust; saying that the truce had not yet been proclaimed at Lacedaemon when the heavy infantry were sent off.

[3] But the Eleans affirmed that the armistice with them had already begun (they proclaim it first among themselves), and that the aggression of the Lacedaemonians had taken them by surprise while they were living quietly as in time of peace, and not expecting anything.

[4] Upon this the Lacedaemonians submitted, that if the Eleans really believed that they had committed an aggression, it was useless after that to proclaim the truce at Lacedaemon ; but they had proclaimed it notwithstanding, as believing nothing of the kind, and from that moment the Lacedaemonians had made no attack upon their country.

[5] Nevertheless the Eleans adhered to what they had said, that nothing would persuade them that an aggression had not been committed; if, however, the Lacedaemonians would restore Lepreum, they would give up their own share of the money and pay that of the god for them.

Die Olympischen Spiele^dieses Sommers waren
diejenigen, bei welchen der Arkadier Androsthenes zum ersten Mal im
Pankration siegte. Die Lakedämonier aber waren durch die Eleer vom
Heiligthum ausgeschlossen worden, so daß'sie weder am Opfer'noch
an'den'Weltkäwpsen Theil nehmen konnten, da sie die Buße nicht
bezahlt hatten, zu welcher.die Eleer nach dem'Olympischen Recht sie
verurtheilten, weil sie ihre Festung Phyrkos mit den
Waffeivangegrissen^und in das ihnen gehörige Lepreon während der Olympischen
Waffenruhe eine Besatzung Geharnischter gelegt hätten? Die
Strafsumme betrug zwei Tausend Minen, zwei Minen für-jeden
Geharnischten, wie das'Gesetz bestimmt^). Die Lakedämonier'aber ließen
durch Gesandte Gegenbeschwerde führen und behaupteten, damals,
als sie ihre Schwerbewaffneten ausschickten'/ sei die^ Waffenruhe noch
nicht in Lakedämon angesagt gewesen. Die Eleer aber sagten, bei
ihnen sei die Waffenruhe schon in Kraft' gewesen, — sie lassen
dieselbe nämlich unter ihnen selbst zuerst ausrufen^ und während sie
sich selbst ruhig verhielten'und, als im Schutze des Gottesfriedens,
nichts Feindliches erwarteten, hätten jene ihnen hinterrücks Unrecht
zugefügt. Dagegen nun führten die Lakedämonier an, wenn die
Eleer geglaubt hätten, von ihnen bereits Unrecht erlitten zu haben,
so sei eS ja überflüssig gewesen, noch den Frieden in Lakedämon
ansagen zu lassen; aber doch hätten sie das gethan, weil sie eben jenes
nicht geglaubt hätten, und sie'selbst'hätten auch seitdem nach keiner
Seite mehr Feindseligkeiten gegen sie unternommen. Die Eleer aber
blieben bei ihren ersten Worten und sagten, daß sie sich nicht
überzeugen könnten, als hätten jene kein Unrecht gethan; würden sie ¹
ihnen aber Lepreon zurückgeben, so wollten sie ihnen ihren eigenen ²
Antheil an dem Strafgeld erlassen und'auch, was davon für den,
Gott entfalle, selbst für sie bezahlen.

XLIX. Cet été furent célébrés les jeux Olympiques, où Androsthènes d’Arcadie remporta pour la première ¹ fois le prix du pancrace ² . Les Lacédémoniens se virent interdire par les Éléens l’entrée du temple; ils ne purent, dès lors, ni sacrifier, ni participer aux jeux, comme n’ayant pas payé l’amende à laquelle les Éléens les avaient condamnés, suivant la loi olympique, sous prétexte qu’ils avaient, pendant la trêve olympique ³ , porté les armes contre la place des Phrycos et envoyé des hoplites à Lépréon. L’amende était de deux mille raines, à deux mines par hoplite ⁴ , suivant la loi. Les Lacédémoniens envoyèrent des députés et soutinrent qu’ils avaient été condamnés à tort, la trêve n’ayant pas encore été proclamée à Lacédémone ⁵ quand ils envoyèrent leurs hoplites. Les Éléens alléguaient que pour eux la suspension d’armes existait déjà, — car ils ont coutume de la proclamer chez eux d’abord,— et que, tandis qu’ils étaient tranquilles, sans inquiétude, comme en temps de trêve, les Lacédémoniens en avaient profité pour commettre inopinément cette injuste violence. Les Lacédémoniens répondaient que les Éléens n’auraient pas dû faire proclamer la trêve à Sparte, si déjà à cette époque ils se croyaient lésés par les Lacédémoniens; qu’ils l’avaient fait cependant, preuve qu’ils étaient loin de cette pensée; que de ce moment les Lacédémoniens n’avaient plus porté les ^{6 7 8 9} armes contre eux. Néanmoins les Éléens persistèrent dans leur dire, soutenant qu’on ne leur persuaderait pas que les Lacédémoniens fussent irréprochables; que si cependant ceux-ci voulaient leur rendre Lépréon, ils offraient de leur côté de faire remise de ce qui leur revenait sur l’amende, et de payer pour les Lacédémoniens la part afférente au dieu.

Pendant cet été, on célébra les jeux olympiques, où l’Arcadien Androsthénès fut pour la première fois vainqueur au pancrace ¹ . Les Lacédémoniens se virent fermer par les Eléens l’accès du temple, des sacrifices et des jeux. Ils n’avaient pas payé l’amende à laquelle, d’après la loi d’Olympie, les Eléens les avaient condamnés pour avoir porté les armes contre leur fort de Phyrcos ² et envoyé des hoplites à Lépréon pendant la trêve olympique ³ . L’amende était de deux mille mines ⁴ , à raison de deux mines par hoplite, conformément à la loi. Les Lacédémoniens réclamèrent par ambassade contre cette sentence ; suivant eux, la trêve n’était pas encore publiée à Lacédémone quand ils avaient envoyé leurs gens. Les Eléens répondirent qu'elle existait pour eux-mêmes,—en effet ils la proclamèrent d’abord chez eux;— et que, se reposant sur la foi publique , ils avaient été pris au dépourvu. A quoi les Lacédémoniens répliquèrent que si, à cette époque, les Eléens s’étaient crus offensés, ils n’auraient pas proclamé liai trêve à Lacédémone; puisqu’ils l’avaient fait, c’est qu’ils étaient loin de cette pensée ; enfin, depuis ce moment, eux-mêmes s’étaient abstenus de toute agression. Les Eléens ne voulurent rien entendre. Jamais, dirent-ils, on ne leur ferait croire que les Lacédémoniens ne fussent pas dans leur tort; si pourtant ceux-ci voulaient rendre Lépréon , ils renonceraient à leur part de l’amende et payeraient pour les Lacédémoniens celle qui revenait au dieu.

[1] This summer the Olympic games were ¹ held, in which Androsthenes an Arcadian won his first victory in the pancratium. The Lacedaemonians were excluded from the sanctuary by the Eleans, and so could neither sacrifice nor contend in the games, as they refused to pay the fine which had been assessed against them according to Olympic law by the Eleans, who alleged that they had attacked the Elean fortress of Phyrcus, and sent a force of their hoplites into Lepreum during the Olympic truce. ² The fine was two thousand minas, ³ two minas ⁴ for each hoplite, as the law ordains.

[2] The Lacedaemonians sent envoys and urged that the fine had been unfairly imposed upon them, claiming that the treaty had not been announced at Lacedaemon when they sent the hoplites into Elis.

[3] But the Eleans said that the truce was already in force in their country—for they proclaim it among themselves first —and while they were keeping quiet and not expecting any attack, as in time of truce, the Lacedaemonians had done

[4] the wrong, taking them by surprise. The Lacedaemonians replied that they should not have gone on and announced the truce at Lacedaemon if they were of the opinion that the Lacedaemonians were already wronging them, but they had done this as though they did not think so, and they themselves had not kept on bearing arms against them anywhere

[5] after the announcement of the truce. But the Eleans persisted in the same statement, saying that they could never be persuaded that the Lacedaemonians were not guilty; if, however, they were willing to restore Lepreum to them, they would give up their own half of the fine, and what was due to the gods they would themselves pay on their behalf.

[1] The Olympic festival was held this summer, that at which Androsthenes the Arcadian was victor the first time in the ¹ pancratium. The Lacedaemonians were excluded from the temple by the Eleans, so that they could neither sacrifice nor enter the lists, as refusing to pay the fine to which the Eleans, by virtue of the Olympian law, had condemned them, alleging that they had attacked the fortress of Phyrcus, and sent a body of their heavy-armed into Lepreum during the Olympic truce. The fine imposed upon them was two thousand mine, being two for each heavy-armed soldier, as the law ordains. But the Lacedaemonians sent ambassadors, and pleaded that it had not been fairly imposed upon them;

[2] declaring that the truce had not yet been proclaimed at Lacedaemon, when they sent their troops into Lepreum.

[3] The Eleans, however, maintained that the cessation of arms in their country had already commenced, (for they proclaim it amongst themselves first,) and that while they were living in quiet, and not expecting any thing, as it was time of truce, the Lacedaemonians had committed an injury upon them by surprise.

[4] The Lacedaemonians replied, that there was no need of the Eleans having still proclaimed the truce at Lacedaemon, if they had thought them already guilty of injustice; but they had done so, as not thinking it; and they themselves had no longer gone any where to attack them.

[5] The Eleans. however, adhered to the same statement, namely, that they could never be persuaded that they were not guilty; but that if they would restore Lepreum to them, they were ready to give up their own share of the money, and would themselves pay for them that which fell to the god.

[1] Hac autem aestate Olympia fuerunt, in quibus Androsthenes Arcas primum in pancratii certamine victor erat; et Lacedaemonii aditu ad templum ab Eleis prohibiti sunt, ne sacrificium facerent, neve certarent, quod ipsis non persolverent multam, quam Elei iis ex lege Olympiaca damnatis irrogaverant; dicebant enim, illos in munitionem Phyrcum arma intulisse, et milites ex suis armatos in Lepreum immisisse Olympiaci foederis tempore. Multe autem erat duo millia minarum, ia singulos milites armatae binae minae, quemadmodum lege continetur.

[2] Lacedaemonii vero missis legatis contradicebant, negantes, se juste condemnatos, quippe quod foedus Lacedaemoniis nondum denuntiatum esset, quum suos milites armatos illuc immiserunt.

[3] Elei autem dicebant inducias apud se jam fuisse (sibi enim ipsis primis eos indicunt), et se quiescentibus , neque tale quid exspectantibus, utpote foederis tempore, illos clam injuriam sibi fecisse.

[4] Lacedaemonii vero excipiebant, Eleos non amplius oportuisse inducias Lacedaemoniis denuntiare, si quidem jam tunc injuriam sibi ab ipsis fieri putarent, non autem ita, quasi hoc crederent, eos illud fecisse et arma se nusquam postea ipsis intulisse.

[5] Elei vero in eadem sententia perstabant, dicentes, se nunquam adductum iri, ut sibi nullam injuriam fieri crederent; sed si Lepreum sibi restituere vellent, suam multae partem remissuros, et partem, quae deo deberetur, se pro ipsis persoluturos.

In questa estate celebraronsi i giochi olimpici, ove Androstene arcade vinse la prima volta il pancrazio; e gli Elei interdissero ai Lacedemoni di entrare nel sacro recinto, e di sacrificare e di gareggiarvi, perchè non pagavan loro la multa, alla quale in vigore della legge olimpica li avevano condannati ; incolpandoli di aver portato le armi contro il forte di Firco , e spedite, durante la tregua olimpica , delle loro genti gravi contro Lepreo. La multa era duemila mine, due per soldato, a tenore della legge. Ma i Lacedemoni speditivi ambasciatori opponevano d’essere stati condannati ingiustamente, sostenendo non essere stata annunziata la tregua a Sparta quando vi spedirono le genti gravi. Rispondevano gli Elei che già avevano nel loro paese sospensione d’armi (poiché cominciano dal promulgarla tra loro), e che mentre stavano tranquilli e senza sospetto , fidandosi alla tregua , essi sotto mano li avevano ingiustamente assaliti. All’ opposto ripigliavano i Lacedemoni, che se gli Elei fin d’allora credevano ingiusto questo loro procedere, dovevano annunciare la tregua anche a Sparta , lo che non avevano fatto ; ed allora i Lacedemoni non avrebbero più portate le armi in alcun luogo contro di loro. Gli Elei però ondavano sempre ripetendo che e’ non s’indurrebbero mai a credere che i Lacedemoni non avessero il torto; pure se restituissero Lepreo condonerebbero la porzione della multa dovuta loro, e pagherebbero per essi quella dovuta al Nume.