Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 6.71

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Die Athener wandten sich indessen nicht nach dem
Tempel, sondern sammelten ihre Toten, legten sie auf Scheiter
haufen und blieben über Nacht auf dem Schlachtfelde. Am
folgenden Tage gaben sie den Syrakusern, von denen und
deren Bundesgenossen gegen zweihundertsechzig gefallen waren,
ihre Toten unter Waffenstillstand heraus und sammelten die
Gebeine ihrer eigenen Toten. Von ihnen und ihren Bundes
genossen waren gegen fünfzig gefallen. Darauf führen sie
mit der den Feinden abgenommenen Waffenbeute wieder
ab nach Katana. Denn es war Winter, auch hielten sie es
nicht für möglich, den Krieg hier weiter zu führen, bevor sie
Reiterei aus Athen bekommen oder von den Bundesgenossen
hier im Lande an sich gezogen hätten, damit ihnen der Feind
an Reiterei nicht zu sehr überlegen wäre. Zugleich wollten
sie sich erst hier im Lande Geld verschaffen und von Athen
schicken lassen und einige Städte auf ihre Seite ziehen, die
sich, wie sie hofften, dazu jetzt nach der Schlacht eher bereit
finden lassen würden, auch sich noch weiter mit Lebensmitteln
und sonstigem Bedarf versehen, um dann im Frühjahr Sy
rakus anzugreifen.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] οἱ δὲ Ἀθηναῖοι πρὸς μὲν τὸ ἱερὸν οὐκ ἦλθον, ξυγκομίσαντες δὲ τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκροὺς καὶ ἐπὶ πυρὰν ἐπιθέντες ηὐλίσαντο αὐτοῦ. τῇ δ’ ὑστεραίᾳ τοῖς μὲν Συρακοσίοις ἀπέδοσαν ὑποσπόνδους τοὺς νεκρούς (ἀπέθανον δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων περὶ ἑξήκοντα καὶ διακοσίους), τῶν δὲ σφετέρων τὰ ὀστᾶ ξυνέλεξαν (ἀπέθανον δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων ὡς πεντήκοντα), καὶ τὰ τῶν πολεμίων σκῦλα ἔχοντες ἀπέπλευσαν ἐς Κατάνην·

[2] χειμών τε γὰρ ἦν, καὶ τὸν πόλεμον αὐτόθεν ποιεῖσθαι οὔπω ἐδόκει δυνατὸν εἶναι, πρὶν ἂν ἱππέας τε μεταπέμψωσιν ἐκ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν καὶ ἐκ τῶν αὐτόθεν ξυμμάχων ἀγείρωσιν, ὅπως μὴ παντάπασιν ἱπποκρατῶνται, καὶ χρήματα δὲ ἅμα αὐτόθεν τε ξυλλέξωνται καὶ παρ’ Ἀθηναίων ἔλθῃ, τῶν τε πόλεών τινας προσαγάγωνται, ἃς ἤλπιζον μετὰ τὴν μάχην μᾶλλον σφῶν ὑπακούσεσθαι, τά τε ἄλλα καὶ σῖτον καὶ ὅσων δέοι παρασκευάσωνται ὡς ἐς τὸ ἔαρ ἐπιχειρήσοντες ταῖς Συρακούσαις.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] The Athenians went not to assault the temple, but gathering together their dead, laid them upon the funeral fire, and stayed that night upon the place. The next day they gave truce to the Syracusians to take up their dead, of whom and of their confederates were slain about two hundred and sixty; and gathered up the bones of their own. Of the Athenians and their confederates there died about fifty. And thus, having rifled the bodies of their dead enemies, they returned to Catana.

[2] For it was now winter; and to make war there, they thought it yet unpossible before they had sent for horsemen to Athens and levied other amongst their confederates there in Sicily, to the end they might not be altogether over-mastered in horse; and before they had also both levied money there and received more from Athens and made league with certain cities, which they hoped after this battle would the more easily hearken thereunto, and before they had likewise provided themselves of victuals and other things necessary, as intending the next spring to undertake Syracuse again.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] The Athenians, however did not go to the temple, but collected their dead and laid them upon a pyre, and passed the night upon the field. The next day they gave the enemy back their dead under truce, to the number of about two hundred and sixty, Syracusans and allies, and gathered together the bones of their own, some fifty, Athenians and allies, and taking the spoils of the enemy, sailed back to Catana .

[2] It was now winter; and it did not seem possible for the moment to carry on the war before Syracuse , until horse should have been sent for from Athens and levied among the allies in Sicily—to do away with their utter inferiority in cavalry—and money should have been collected in the country and received from Athens , and until some of the cities, which they hoped would be now more disposed to listen to them after the battle, should have been brought over, and corn and all other necessaries provided, for a campaign in the spring against Syracuse .

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.71 focus

Die Athener indeß gingen nicht nach jenem-Tempel,
sondern suchten ihre Todten zusammen, legten sie aus.
einen.Scheiterhausen und lagerten die Nacht im Freien. Am folgenden Tag gaben He
unter einem. Waffenstillstand d.en-Syrakusiern ihre Todten heraus —>
von diesen.und ihren Bundesgenossen waren,aber gegen zwei hundert
und sechzig, gefallen — sammelten die Gebeine.der Ihrigen^) —
von ihnen.und ihrer Bundesgenossenschaft waren gegen fünfzig
geblieben — und gingen dann mit der feindlichen Waffenbeute wieder
unter Segel nach Katana, Es war ^nämlich schon Winterszeit,. und
eS schien.ihnen nicht mehr möglich, von ihrer Stellung (am
Olympieion) aus den Krieg fortzusetzen, bevor sie nicht Reiterei von Athen
hätten, nachkommen lassen und bei den dortigen Bundesgenossen
gesammelt hätten, damit sie der feindlichen Reiterei gegenüber nicht
so. ganz und gar im Nachtheil seien. Auch wollten sie aus Sieilien
Geld sammeln und solches aus Athen kommen lassen, und auch einige
Städte dachten sie für sich zu gewinnen, denn sie hofften, daß man
nach dieser Schlacht ihnen mehr Gehör geben werde..Auch alles
Sonstige, Getreide und, die andern Bedürfnisse, wollten sie sich
verschaffen, um gegen das Frühjahr hin Syrakus wieder anzugreifen.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.71 focus

LXXI. Les Athéniens ne firent aucune tentative sur le temple; ils enlevèrent les cadavres des leurs, les mirent sur le bûcher et bivouaquèrent sur le champ de bataille. Le lendemain ils rendirent aux Syracusains leurs morts par convention (il y en avait environ deux cent soixante, Syracusains ou alliés); ils recueillirent les ossements des leurs (au nombre de cinquante environ, tant Athéniens qu’alliés); et, chargés des dépouilles de l’ennemi, ils firent voile pour Catane. Car, l’hiver étant venu, il ne leur semblait pas possible encore de tenir la campagne en cet endroit, avant d’avoir fait venir de la cavalerie d’Athènes et d’en avoir tiré des alliés du pays, de manière à ne point laisser à celle de l’ennemi une entière supériorité. Ils voulaient aussi recueillir de l’argent en Sicile, en faire demander à Athènes, se rallier quelques villes¹, où ils espéraient faire accepter plus aisément leur autorité après le combat, enfin se procurer des vivres et tout ce qui serait nécessaire pour attaquer Syracuse au printemps.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.71 focus

Les Athéniens ne firent aucun mouvement contre le temple. Ils relevèrent leurs morts, les placèrent sur un bûcherr et bivaquèrent sur le champ de bataille. Le lendemain, ils rendirent aux Syracusains leurs morts, au nombre de deux cent soixante, y compris les alliéa, et recueillirent les ossements des leurs, montant à une cinquantaine, Athéniens ou alliés. Chargés des dépouilles des ennemis, ils se rembarquèrent pour Catane. On était alors en hiver, et il ne semblait guère possible de continuer les opérations avant d’avoir reçu des cavaliers d’Athènes et des alliés siciliens, pour ne pas être absolument dominés par la cavalerie ennemie. Ils avaient aussi le projet de ramasser de l'argent en Sicile, d’en faire venir d’Athènes et de s’allier certaines villes, qu’on devait trouver plus traitables depuis l’issue du combat; enfin ils voulaient se procurer des vivres et tout le matériel nécessaire pour attaquer Syracuse dès le printemps. C’est dans cette intention qu’ils retournèrent prendre leurs quartiers d’hiver à Naxos et à Catane.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] The Athenians, however, did not go to the temple, but collecting their own dead and placing them on a pyre they passed the night where they were. But on the next day they gave back under truce the Syracusan dead, of whom and of their allies about two hundred and sixty were slain; then gathering up the bones of their own dead—of themselves and their allies about fifty—and taking with them the spoils of the enemy, they sailed back to Catana.

[2] For it was winter, and it seemed as yet impossible to carry on the war from this base until they should send to Athens for horsemen, besides collecting them from their allies in Sicily, that they might not be altogether at the mercy of the enemy's cavalry. And they wanted at the same time to collect money from the island itself, and to have a supply come from Athens; also to bring over some of the cities, which they hoped would be more ready to listen to them since the battle; and to prepare other things, both food and whatever was needed, with a view to attacking Syracuse the next spring.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] The Athenians, however, did not go to the temple, but after carrying their own dead together, and laying them on a funeral pile, passed the night on the ground. The next day they restored to the Syracusans their dead, under a truce. (there had fallen, of them and their allies, about two hundred and sixty,) and collected the bones of their own, (about fifty of themselves and their allies having been killed,) and with the spoils of the enemy sailed back to Catana.

[2] For it was winter, and they thought it impossible at present to carry on war before Syracuse, till they had sent for cavalry from Athens, and also raised some from their allies in the country, to avoid being utterly defeated by the enemy's horse. They wished too, at the same time, to collect money in the island, and to get a supply from Athens; as also to win over some of the cities to their cause, which they hoped would more readily listen to them after the battle; and to provide themselves with corn and every thing else they might require, with a view to attacking Syracuse in the spring.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.71.1 focus

[1] Athenienses vero ad templum quidem non iverunt, sed congestis suorum cadaveribus ac pyrae impositis in loco pernoctarunt. Postero vero die Syracusanis quidem sua cadavera fide publica interposita reddiderunt (perierunt vero eorum et sociorum ad ducentos et sexaginta), suorum vero ossa collegerunt (perierunt vero eorum et sociorum ad quinquaginta), et cum hostium spoliis Catanam.navigarunt;

[2] nam et erat liiems, et bellum illinc nondum administrari (Misse videbatur, priusquam et equites arcesserent Athenis, et ex sociis illic incolentibus cogerent, ne prorsus equitatu superarentur, et vero pecunias simul et illic colligerent et aliae Athenis afferrentur, civitatcsquc aliquas sibi adjungerent, quas post hanc pugnam sibi facilius obtemperaturas sperabant, itemque quuui alia, tum etiam commeatum et cetera, quibus opus esset, prarparassent,quod ineunle vere Syracusas aggredi statuissent.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.71 focus

Ma gli Ateniesi non andarono al tempio olimpico j anzi accolti i cadaveri dei loro e postili in sul rogo, passarono ivi la notte. Il dì seguente con salvocondotto resero i morti ai Siracusani (che compresivi gli alleati erano circa dugentosessanta), radunarono le ossa de’suoi, de’quali contando gli alleati morirono intorno di cinquanta, e prese le spoglie nemiche rinavigarono a Catana. Couciossiachè era inverno, e non pareva ancor possibile prqseguir subito l' guerra, prima d’aver fatto venire dei cavalieri da Atene e d’averne radunati dagli alleati di Sicilia (per non esser del tutto inferiori in cavalleria), e prima d’aver raccolti denari di li oltre quelli che verrebbero d’Atene ; e d’essersi aggiunte città che speravano doversi piegare all’obbedienza più facilmente dopo quella battaglia; e finalmente d’avere apparecchiato tutte le altre cose, e frumento e ciò che potesse occorrere per assaltar Siracusa a primavera.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 (Thucydides, Book VI. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

τὸ ἱερόν —Plutarch says that the A. army was anxious to seize the spoils of the temple, and that Nieias prevented the sacrilege, and purposely permitted the Syr. to occupy the Olympieum.

ξυγκομίσαντες —to burn them. νεκροὺς συγκομίζειν is the regular phrase for preparing the dead.

ἐπὶ πυρὰν ἐπιθέντες —it was the custom to burn the bodies on the field of battle, then to collect the bones and send them to Athens to be buried in the outer Cerameicus. In the case of Marathon, however, the bones were buried on the field of battle, this being regarded as a special honour. It is noticeable that Thuc. in describing this first battle of the expedition puts down the occurrences—such as the preliminary sacrifices and the details of burial—that are a part of all battles.

αὐτοῦ —on the battle-field.

ἀπέπλευσαν ἐς Κατάνην —a strange thing to do after gaining a victory. Nicias surely ought to have attacked Syracuse: for this purpose cavalry would not have been needed.

αὐτόθεν ποιεῖσθαι — i.e. from the position which they now occupied. But it is strange that they did not discover all this before taking up the position.

ἱππέας τε . . καὶ χρήματα δέ —here τε is answered by δέ, for καί strictly=‘as well.’ τε . . δέ is quite common, esp. in tragedy. καὶ . . δέ occurs several times in Thuc. Notice the chiasnius in ἐκ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν . . ἐκ τῶν αὐτόθεν . . αὐτόθεν . . καὶ παρ’ Ἀθηναίων. Chiasmus is very common in Thuc.

μεταπέμψωσιν —the act. means to summon to one's aid. Cf. c. 52, 1.

χρήματα —serves as object of one verb and subject of another.

καὶ σῖτον — explanation of τὰ ἄλλα, so that καί = ‘both.’

ἐς τὸ ἔαρ —expressing the time in the fnt. when the thing is to occur. Frequent in Aristophanes.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.71

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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