Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.104

[1] After this, they fought in this manner: The Athenians went by the shore, ordering their galleys one by one, towards Sestos. The Peloponnesians also, when they saw this, brought out their fleet against them from Abydos.

[2] Being sure to fight, they drew out their fleets in length, the Athenians along the shore of Chersonnesus, beginning at Idacus and reaching as far as Arrhiana, threescore and six galleys; and the Peloponnesians, from Abydos to Dardanum, fourscore and six galleys.

[3] In the right wing of the Peloponnesians were the Syracusians; in the other, Mindarus himself and those galleys that were nimblest. Amongst the Athenians, Thrasyllus had the left wing and Thrasybulus the right; and the rest of the commanders, every one the place assigned him.

[4] Now the Peloponnesians laboured to give the first onset and with their left wing to over-reach the right wing of the Athenians and keep them from going out, and to drive those in the middle to the shore which was near. The Athenians, who perceived it, where the enemy went about to cut off their way out, put forth the same way that they did and outwent them;

[5] the left wing of the Athenians was also gone forward by this time beyond the point called Cynos-sema. By means whereof that part of the fleet which was in the midst became both weak and divided, especially when theirs was the less fleet; and the sharp and angular figure of the place about Cynos-sema took away the sight of what passed there from those that were on the other side.

[1] After this they engaged in the following way. The Athenians formed in column and sailed close along shore to Sestos ; upon perceiving which the Peloponnesians put out from Abydos to meet them.

[2] Realising that a battle was now imminent, both combatants extended their flank; the Athenians along the Chersonese from Idacus to Arrhiani with seventy-six ships; the Peloponnesians from Abydos to Dardanus with eighty-six.

[3] The Peloponnesian right wing was occupied by the Syracusans, their left by Mindarus in person with the best sailors in the navy; the Athenian left by Thrasyllus, their right by Thrasybulus, the other commanders being in different parts of the fleet.

[4] The Peloponnesians hastened to engage first, and outflanking with their left the Athenian right sought to cut them off, if possible, from sailing out of the straits, and to drive their centre upon the shore, which was not far off. The Athenians perceiving their intention extended their own wing and outsailed them,

[5] while their left had by this time passed the point of Cynossema . This, however, obliged them to thin and weaken their centre, especially as they had fewer ships than the enemy, and as the coast round Point Cynossema formed a sharp angle which prevented their seeing what was going on on the other side of it.

Danach kam es denn auch zum Seekampf, und eS ging
dabei also her. Die Athener stellten sich in Eine Linie und steuerten
dicht an der Küste hin gegen Sestos, und die Peloponnefier, als sie
dies bemerkten, kamen ihrerseits von Abydos hergesegelt. Als man
nun beiderseits sah, daß es zum Kampfe kommen werde, dehnten die ¹
Athener ihre Linie am Ehersonnes hin aus, so daß dieselbe,
sechSundsiebenzig Segel stark, von Jdakos bis Arrhiana reichte; die
Peloponnesier aber, achtundsechzig Segel stark, reichten von Abydos bis
Dardanos. Den rechten Flügel der Peloponnesier hatten die
Syrakusaner inne, den andern Mindaros und die besten Segler unter
seinen Schiffen. Bei den Athenern befehligte auf dem linken Flügel
Thrasyllos, aus dem rechten Thrasybulos, und die andern Feldherrn,'
wie sie dazwischen eingetheilt waren. Die Peloponnesier beeilten sich
nun, mit dem Angriff zuvorzukommen, dem rechten Flügel der
Athener, den sie mit ihrem linken überragten, wo möglich die Ausfahrt
auS der Meerenge zu verschließen und ihre Mitte gegen das Land
hin zu drängen, das nicht weit entfernt war. Die Athener merkten
dieß aber und dehnten da, wo die Gegner sie abzusperren gedachten,
ebenfalls ihre Linie weiter aus und kamen ihnen an Schnelligkeit
zuvor. Ihr linker Flügel aber überragte schon das Vorgebirge,
welches Kynos-Sema genannt wird. In ihrem Centrum standen in
Folge dessen die Schiffe in schwächerer und weit auseinander
gezogener Linie, zumal sie hier auch an Zahl der Fahrzeuge im Nachtheil
waren, wozu noch kam, daß das Vorgebirge Kynos-Sema einen
spitzwinkeligen Vorsprung bildet, so daß man nicht sehen konnte, waS
auf der andern Seite vorging.

CIV. L’action s’engagea ensuite dans l’ordre suivant : les Athéniens, rangés à la file, longeaient la côte de Sestos; les Péloponnésiens, qui d’Abydos avaient vu leur mouvement, s’avançaient à leur rencontre. ¹ Quand on reconnut que le combat était inévitable, les deux flottes étendirent leurs lignes : celle des Athéniens, forle de soixante-seize vaisseaux, occupait, le long de la Chersonnèse, depuis Idacos jusqu’à Harrhianes; celle des Péloponnésiens s’étendait d’Abydos à Dardanos et comptait quatre-vingt-dix-huit bâtiments. A la droite des Péloponnésiens étaient les Syracusains; à l’autre aile Mindaros et les vaisseaux qui manoeuvraient le mieux. Du côté des Athéniens, Thrasylle occupait la gauche, Thrasybule la droite; entre eux deux étaient les autres généraux, chacun à leur rang Les Péloponnésiens, impatients de commencer, donnerent les premiers : ils voulaient, en étendant leur gauche dépasser la droite des Athéniens, les empêcher, s'(??)était possible, de gagner le large, les charger au centre t les pousser à la côte qui n’était pas éloignée. Les athéniens, voyant cette manoeuvre, s’étendirent du còé, où l’ennemi voulait les enfermer, prirent l’avance et le débordèrent. Leur gauche avait déjà dépassé le proraoitoire de Gynossêma, de sorte que, par cette manoeuvre, ils se trouvaient n’avoir plus au centre que des vaisstaux faibles, épars, moins nombreux d’ailleurs que ceux de l’ennemi. De plus, la côte de Gynossêma formant une courbe profondément dentelée, il était impossible Apercevoir de là ce qui se passait plus loin.

Ensuite l’action s’engagea de la manière suivante. Les Athéniens, rangés en file, serraient la côte en se dirigeant vers Sestos; les Péloponésiens, qui les avaient aperças d’Abydos, s’avancèrent à leur rencontre. Quand le combat parut imminent, les Athéniens se déployèrent le long de la Chersonèse, depuis Idaeos jusqu'à Arriarta, aveo soixante-seize vaisseaux. Les Péloponésiens en firent autant, depuis Abydos jusqu’à Dardanos, avee quatre-vingt-huit. A l’aile droite des Péloponé-siens étaient les Syracusains, à l’autre aile Mindaros en personne avee les bâtiments qui marchaient le mieux. Du côté des Athéniens, Tbrasylos occupait la gauche, Thrasybulos la droite ; au centre étaient les autres généraux, chacun à son rang. Les Péloponésiens se hâtèrent d’entamer le combat.Leur aile gauebe débordant la droite dçs Athéniens, ils voulaient, s’il était possible, leur fermer la sortie du détroit, les charger au centre et les pousser à la côte qui est peu éloignée. Mais les Athéniens, devinant leur intention, s’étendirent du côté où les ennemis manœuvraient pour les enfermer, prirent l’avance et les déhordèrent. Leur aile gauche avait déjà dépassé le promontoire nommé Cynosséma ¹ . Ce mouvement· laissait faible et dégarni le centre de leur ligne, déjà, inférieur en nombre à l’ennemi; de plus, le contour du Cynosséma, formant un angle aigu, ne permettait pas d’apercevoir ce qui se passait au delà.

[1] When that time had elapsed they began the battle in the following manner. The Athenians, arrayed in single column, were sailing close in to sore in the direction of Sestus, when the Peloponnesians, observing their movements from Abydus, went out to meet them.

[2] When they both realised that a battle was imminent, the Athenians, with seventy-six ships, extended their line parallel with the shore of the Chersonesus, from Idacus to Arrhiana, while the Peloponnesians, with eighty-six ships, extended theirs from Abydus to Dardanus.

[3] The right wing of the Peloponnesians was held by the Syracusans, the other by Mindarus himself, who had there his fastest ships; on the Athenian side, Thrasyllus had the left wing and Thrasybulus the right, the other generals being stationed at intervals throughout the line.

[4] The Peloponnesians were eager to strike the first blow, and by outflanking the Athenian right with their own left wing to cut them off from the exit to the straits, if possible, meanwhile in the centre driving them to the shore, which was not far distant. The Athenians perceived their intention, and at the point where their opponents wished to bar their way they proceeded to extend their line to prevent it, and were succeeding in this manoeuvre; indeed, their left had already passed the headland called Cynossema.

[5] But in the centre, as the result of this movement, their line of ships became weak and straggling; and especially since the number of their ships was smaller and the turn of the coast at Cynossema is sharp and angular, so that what was happening on the other side of it was not visible.

[1] After this they fought in the following manner. The Athenians, drawn up in column, were sailing close along shore towards Sestos; while the Peloponnesians, observing this from Abydus, put out on their side also to meet them.

[2] When they found that they were on the eve of an engagement, they extended their flank, the Athenians along the Chersonese, from Idacus to Arrhiana, with seventy-six ships; the Peloponnesians, on the other hand, from Abydus to Dardanus, with eighty-six.

[3] On the side of the Peloponnesians, the right wing was held by the Syracusans, the other by Mindarus himself and the fastest sailing vessels; on that of the Athenians, the left was held by Thrasylus, the right by Thrasybulus; while the other commanders took their position as might severally happen.

[4] It being the object of the Peloponnesians to strike the first blow, and by outflanking the Athenians' right with their own left to exclude them, if they could, from sailing out of the straits, as well as to drive their centre on to the shore, which was at no great distance; the Athenians, aware of this, extended their own wing also where the enemy wished to hem them in, and had the advantage over them in sailing;

[5] while their left had by this time passed the headland called Cynossema. But in consequence of this, they had to form their centre with weak and scattered ships, especially as they had the smaller number at their command, and the coast about Cynossema formed a sharp and angular projection, so that what was doing on the other side of it was not visible.

[1] Postea vero navale proeliom committebant hoc modo. Athenienses aciei longo ordine secundum ipsam oram Sestum versus navigabant; Peloponnesii vero re cognita ex Abydo et ipsi obviam prodibant.

[2] Et postquam animadverterunt navale proelium commissum iri, longum ordinem utrimque extenderunt, Athenienses quidem, juxta Chersonesum, initio ducto ab Idaeo usque ad Arrhiana, navibus sex et septuaginta, Peloponnesii contra ab Abydo usque ad Dardanum, navibus octo et octoginta.

[3] Cornu autein apud Peloponnesios quidem tenebant dextrum Syracusani, alterum ipse Mindarus, et velocissimae navium; apud Athenienses vero sinistrum Thrasylus, Thrasybulus dextrum; ceterique duces suo quisque loco steterunt.

[4] Quum autem Peloponnesii et prius ad manus venire properarent’, et dextro Atheniensium cornu ipsi circumfusi cum suo sinistro illos extrinsecus prodeundi facultate, si possent , intercludere, in medio vero elidere eoe ad terram non procul distantem, Athenienses hac re cognita, qua quidem parte adversarii eos intercludere volebant, aciem contra ipsi extendebant et pracvertebant illos navigationis celeritate;

[5] sed sinistrum eorum cornu superaverat jam promontorium , quod Cynosseiria appellatur. In medio autem propter hanc rem infirmis ac dissipatis navibus consistebant, praesertim quod numero paucioribus utebantur, et locus ille, qui circa Cynossema erat, acutum et angularem amfractum habebat, ita ut ea, quae ultra eum fiebant, conspici non possent. ,

La quale fu poi combattuta in questo modo. Gli Ateniesi con le navi schierate in fila si avanzavano radendo la costa verso Sesto.; ed i Peloponnesi sentito ciò da Abido si mossero incontro aneli’essi. E vedendosi da ambe le parti inevitabile la battaglia , gli Ateniesi distesero le ali delle loro sessantotto navi rasente al Chersoneso, incominciando da Idaco fino ad Arriana ; ed i Peloponnesi schierarono le loro ottantasei da Abido (ino a Dardano. Tenevano i Siracusani l’ala destra de’Peloponnesi; la sinistra Mindaro in persona con le navi più spedite: dalla parte degli Ateniesi, Trasillo era sulla sinistra, Trasibulo sulla destra , e gli altri capitani nel posto assegnato a ciascuno. Si affrettavano i Peloponnesi d’essere i primi a menar le mani, e di serrare ai nemici (se fosse possibile) l’uscita fuori dell’Ellesponto, sorpassando con la loro sinistra la destra degli Ateniesi, e urtandoli sul centro ributtarli verso la terra che non era lontana. Di che accortisi gli Ateniesi spingono le navi a far fronte nel luogo ove i nemici volevano chiuder loro il passaggio, e li prevennero vogando con più prestezza. Già il corno sinistro de’Peloponnesi avea oltrepassato il promontorio chiamato Cinossema ; e gli Ateniesi per quella mossa si ridussero nel centro con navi deboli e disgregate, tanto più che neaveano un minor numero. Cosicché l’ambito del Cinossema presentando una voltata acuta ed angolare, impediva la vista di ciò che accadesse al di là di esso.