Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, ed. Henry Stuart Jones, 3.6

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[1] οἱ δὲ Ἀθηναῖοι πολὺ ἐπιρρωσθέντες διὰ τὴν τῶν Μυτιληναίων ἡσυχίαν ξυμμάχους τε προσεκάλουν, οἳ πολὺ θᾶσσον παρῆσαν ὁρῶντες οὐδὲν ἰσχυρὸν ἀπὸ τῶν Λεσβίων, καὶ περιορμισάμενοι τὸ πρὸς νότον τῆς πόλεως ἐτείχισαν στρατόπεδα δύο ἑκατέρωθεν τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς ἐφόρμους ἐπ’ ἀμφοτέροις τοῖς λιμέσιν ἐποιοῦντο.

[2] καὶ τῆς μὲν θαλάσσης εἶργον μὴ χρῆσθαι τοὺς Μυτιληναίους, τῆς δὲ γῆς τῆς μὲν ἄλλης ἐκράτουν οἱ Μυτιληναῖοι καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι Λέσβιοι προσβεβοηθηκότες ἤδη, τὸ δὲ περὶ τὰ στρατόπεδα οὐ πολὺ κατεῖχον οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι, ναύσταθμον δὲ μᾶλλον ἦν αὐτοῖς πλοίων καὶ ἀγορὰ ἡ Μαλέα. καὶ τὰ μὲν περὶ Μυτιλήνην οὕτως ἐπολεμεῖτο.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. ed. Henry Stuart Jones. Oxford. 1910.

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

Translations (11)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 3.6 focus

[1] But the Athenians, much confirmed by this the Mytilenaeans' cessation, called in their confederates (who, because they saw no assurance on the part of the Lesbians, came much sooner in than was thought they would have done) and, riding at anchor to the south of the city, fortified two camps, on either side one, and brought their galleys before both the ports and so quite excluded the Mytilenaeans from the use of the sea.

[2] As for the land, the Athenians held so much only as lay near their camps, which was not much; and the Mytilenaeans and other Lesbians, that were now come to aid them, were masters of the rest. For Malea served the Athenians for a station only for their galleys and to keep their market in. And thus proceeded the war before Mytilene.

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.) — 3.6 focus

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians, greatly encouraged by the inaction of the Mitylenians, summoned allies to their aid, who came in all the quicker from seeing so little vigor displayed by the Lesbians, and bringing round their ships to a new station to the south of the town, fortified two camps, one on each side of the city, and instituted a blockade of both the harbors.

[2] The sea was thus closed against the Mitylenians, who however commanded the whole country, with the rest of the Lesbians who had now joined them; the Athenians only holding a limited area round their camps, and using Malea more as the station for their ships and their market.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 3.6 focus

Den Athenern war unterdessen wegen der Unthätigkeit der
Mytilenäer der Muth wieder gewachsen, und sie riefen ihre Bundes-
genossen herbei, die sich um so schneller einstellten, da sie sahen, daß von
den Lesbiern nichts Zuverlässiges zu erwarten sei. Dieselben mm
legten sich an der Nordseite der Stadt hin vor Anker, schlugen zwei
feste Lager, auf jeder Seite der Stadt eines, und legten den Verschluß
vor beide Hafen. So sperrten sie zwar die Mytilenäer von der See
ab, sonst aber waren zu Lande diese die Meister sammt den übrigen
Lesbiern, die bereits zu ihnen gestoßen waren. Auch beherrschten die
Athener in der Umgebung ihrer Lager nicht viel Land, weßhalb auch
ihre Hauptstation für die Proviantschiffe und der Markt bei Malea
waren. Auf diese Weise wurde der Krieg vor Mytilene geführt.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 3.6 focus

Die Athener, denen der Mut gewachsen war, weil die
Mytilener nicht herauskamen, zogen nun Bundesgenossen heran,
die um so bereitwilliger erschienen, da die Mytilener anscheinend
keine großen Helden waren. Sie schlossen die Stadt jetzt auch
auf der Südseite mit ihren Schiffen ein, legten zwei befestigte
Lager an, auf jeder Seite der Stadt eins, und sperrten mit
ihrer Flotte die Einfahrt beider Häfen. Damit schnitten sie
die Mytilener allerdings von der See ab, dagegen waren diese
und die inzwischen zu ihnen gestoßenen übrigen Lesbier nach
wie vor Herren der Landseite. Selbst in der nächsten Um
gebung ihrer Lager reichte die Macht der Athener nicht weit,
und ihr Hauptstandort für ihre Schiffe und die Zufuhren blieb
Malea. So verlief der Krieg bei Mytilene.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 3.6 focus

VI. Les Athéniens, fortement encouragés par l'inaction des Mytiléniens, appelèrent à eux des alliés ; et ceux-ci, voyant les Mytiléniens se défendre mollement, se hâtèrent d'arriver. Ils mouillèrent au sud de Mytilène, formèrent deux camps fortifiés, de part et d’autre de la place, et établirent des croisières devant les deux ports. La mer se trouva ainsi fermée aux assiégés. Du côté de la terre, au contraire, les Mytiléniens et les Lesbiens venus à leur secours étaient maîtres de tout le pays. Les Athéniens n’occupaient que peu d’espace autour de leurs camps ; Malée ne leur servait guère que de mouillage pour leur flotte, et de marché. Tel était l’état des hostilités à Mytilène.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 3.6 focus

Cependant les Athéniens, encouragés par l’inaction de l’ennemi, appelèrent à eux leurs alliés. Ceux-ci vinrent avec d’autant plus d’empressement qu’ils n’entrevoyaient pour Lesbos aucune chance favorable. Les Athéniens mouillèrent au sud de Mytilène, établirent des deux côtés de la ville un camp retranché et bloquèrent les ports ¹. La mer se trouva ainsi fermée aux Mytiléniens ; en revanche ils demeurèrent maîtres de la terre (avec les autres Lesbiens qui étaient déjà venus à leur secours), hormis le rayon des camps athéniens. Maléaservait aux assiégeants d’ancrage et de marché ². Telles furent les premières opérations du siège de Mytilène.

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.) — 3.6 focus

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians, much encouraged by the inactivity of the Mytilenaeans, summoned their allies, who put in an appearance the more quickly as they saw that no energetic measures were being taken by the Lesbians. They also placed their ships at anchor round the southern part of the town, and established a blockade against both harbours.

[2] Thus they excluded the Mytilenaeans from the use of the sea; but as for the land, the Mytilenaeans and the other Lesbians, who had now come to their aid, dominated all the island, except the small strip held by the Athenians in the neighbourhood of their camps, and it was Malea rather than their camps that they used as a station for boats and supplies. Such was the course of the war at Mytilene.

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.) — 3.6 focus

[1] The Athenians, on the other hand, being much assured by the quiet of the Mytilenaeans, were calling allies to join them, who came much quicker from seeing no vigour on the part of the Lesbians; and ¹ bringing round their ships to a new station on the south of the town, they fortified two camps, one on each side of the town, and established their blockades at both the harbours.

[2] Thus they excluded the Mytilenaeans from the use of the sea; but of the whole of the land they were still masters, with the rest of the Lesbians who had now come to their assistance; while the Athenians commanded only the small extent round their camps, Malea being rather a station for their ships and a market [than any thing else]. Such were the features of the war about Mytilene.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 3.6 focus

[1] Athenienses vero propter Mytilenaeorum quietem, multo magis confirmati, socios accersebant, qui longe citius affuerunt, eo quod nihil virium apud Lesbios esse animadverterent, et quum australem urbis partem classe circumdedissent, bina castra ad urbem hinc et illinc muris struxerunt, et classis stationes ad utrumque portum habebant.

[2] Ac maris quidem usu Mytilenaeos prohibebant; terrae vero reliquam quidem partem omnem in potestate sua habe- bant Mytilenaei ceterique Lesbii, qui subsidio jam venerant, illam vero non magnam, quae circum castra erat, Athenienses obtinebant, et navalia potius castra navium et mercatus agendi habebant in Malea. Atque ad Mythenen quidem ita gerebatur bellum.

Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides First1KGreek (Thucydides. Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides. Gürsching, Heinrich, translator. Augsburg: Wirth, 1856.) — 2.35 focus

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

[2] Denn wie schwer ist es, da das Rechte zu sagen, wo sich schon die Ueberzeugung von der Wahrheit des Gesagten kaum erreichen lässt. Für den eingeweihten und wohlwollenden Zuhörer wird gar manches hinter seinen gerechten Erwartungen zurückbleiben, während den unkundigen der Neid wieder ebensoviel Uebertreibung darin finden lässt, wenn er an höhere Beweggründe glauben soll, als er selber kennt. Denn Lobreden auf andere erträgt der Mensch nur so weit, als er die Kraft zu den Handlungen, die man ihm erzählt, wenn auch nur zum Theil, in sich findet; jede weitere Zumuthung¹ weckt nur den Neid und man will nicht mehr glauben.

[3] Weil denn aber unsere Vorfahren diese Einrichtung für angemessen erkannt haben, so will auch ich dem Gesetze Genüge thun, indem ich es versuche, den Erwartungen und Ansichten dieser Versammlung nach allen Seiten möglichst gerecht zu werden.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 3.6 focus

Ma gli Ateniesi rincorati grandemente per lo stani dei Midienei, chiamarono confederati, che molto più prontamente comparvero al vedere che nissuna valida resistenza si opponeva dalla parte de’ Lesbii : fermarono in giro la flotta dalla parte meridionale della città, e da’due lati di lei guarnirono di trincea due accampamenti, ed incrociavano ai due porti ; escludendo così dall9 uso del mare i Mitilenei. Essi nondimeno dalla parte di terra, insieme con gli altri Lesbii già venuti in soccorso, restavano padroni di tutto il resto del territorio ; se non che lo spazio non grande che circondava gli accampamenti lo ritenevano gli Ateniesi. La stazione della loro flotta e il mercato era principalmente Malea. Così faceasi la guerra intorno a Mitilene.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3 (Thucydides, Book III. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

θέρους —Thuc. divides the year into θέρος, consisting of about eight months (Elaphebohon to Pyanepsion) and χειμών, consisting of about four (Maimacterion to Anthesterion).

ἅμα τῷ σίτῳ ἀκμάζοντι —‘just when the corn was ripening’; about the middle of May, 428 B.C., before the harvest ( καρποῦ ξυγκομιδή).

ἐγκαθεζόμενοι —the form serves as an aorist as well as a present.

ὥσπερ εἰώθεσαν —sc. γίγνεσθαι, in the two previous invasions. The plan had been started by Pericles.

ὅπῃ παρείκοι —impers., though strictly ὁ θεός is the subject implied.

τὸν πλεῖστον ὅμιλον —cf. II. 31 ὁ ἄλλος ὅμιλος ψιλῶν, ‘the main body.’ Outside Thuc. ὅμιλος is found only in Herod., in tragedy, and in late authors.—The wasting of the country was a tedious task that would devolve naturally on the light-armed troops.

εἶργον τὸ μή —for the constr., which is common with verbs and phrases signifying prevention ( Aesch. PV. 252 ἐξελυσάμην βροτοὺς | τὸ μὴ . . μολεῖν, and often in Aesch.) cf. VI. 1 διείργεται τὸ μὴ ἤπειρος εἶναι (where the MS. οὖσα is shown by many imitations of the sentence by later authors to be a mistake).

τῶν ὅπλων = τοῦ στρατοπέδου, strictly the space in front of the quarters where the arms were stacked; here the word marks the fact that the light-armed could not with safety be withdrawn from the hoplites. 10. τὰ ἐγγὺς τῆς πόλεως—i.e. houses, trees, vineyards: we are not to suppose that the Athenians cropped their lands annually for the benefit of the Peloponnesian invaders.

οὗ —the gen. as in μισθὸς τριῶν μηνῶν. The enemy remained in Attica about thirty days: the longest invasion, that of 430 B.C., lasted forty days, the shortest, in 425 B.C., fifteen days.

Λέσβος ἀπέστη —the gravity of this event lay in the fact that Lesbos and Chios were the only two islands in the Aegean that retained the position of independent allies of Athens. These furnished manned ships, but not infantry or money. For the narrative see Introd. p. xiii.

Μηθύμνης —Methymna, the second town in Lesbos, was under a democracy, Mytilene under an oligarchy.

βουληθέντες agrees κατὰ σύνεσιν with Λέσβος: this change, in the case of peoples, is especially common in Thuc.; and cf. c. 67, 3 ἠλικία . . ῶν. So with στρατιά, στράτευμα.

τῶν . . τήν serve for all three pairs of nouns.

χῶσιν —the harbours were to be turned into λιμένες κλῃστοί ( II. 94, 4): walls were carried across the mouth on artificial moles, and the narrow opening left could be closed with a chain.

ἐπέμενον —showing why they had put off the revolt. The constr. with ἐπιμένειν is here double: (1) τὴν . . ποίησιν τελεσθῆναι, as in VII. 20 περιέμενε τὸν Χαρικλέα . . παραλαβεῖν: (2) ὅσα . . ἔδει ἀφικέσθαι, an accusative clause. (It is objected that Thuc. elsewhere uses ἐπιμένειν only as intrans., but he uses e.g. μένω and ὑπο‐ in both ways; and why not ἐπι‐?)

τοξότας —as mercenaries.

μεταπεμπόμενοι ἦσαν —cf. I. 99 ἦσαν . . ἄρχοντες, II. 80 ἦσαν . . ξυμπροθυμούμενοι. Of course, the periphrasis with pres partic. is much less common than with perf., but it is not different in principle. Passages like II. 67 οὗ ἦν στράτευμα πολιορκοῦν ‘where there was a blockading army’ are quite different, the partic. not belonging to the verb. In yet another case, like I. 38 τοῖς πλείοσιν άρέσκοντές ἐσμεν, the partic. is a predicative adj.

ἰδίᾳ —in contrast with what the government was doing κοινῇ.

κατά —often of the motive or reason, e.g. II. 87 ξυμπαραγενομένων κατὰ φιλίαν.

πρόξενοι —the fact that there were more representatives of Athens than one at Mytilene might show that the office was hereditary in a family, but more probably the title of πρόξενος καὶ εὐεργέτης had been granted by Athens to members of different Mytilenean families. Aristotle in Pol. 1304 a says that Dexander ἦρξε τῆς στάσεως καὶ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους παρώξυνε πρόξενος ὤν: he had a private quarrel with a member of the aristocratic party; from this small matter πολλῶν ἐγένετο ἀρχὴ κακῶν. In any case it would have been the duty of the Proxenus to inform Athens of movements in Mytilene unfavourable to her interests even before the war; but doubtless the quarrel was now an exasperating motive to him, and led directly to the outbreak of stasis, for it was a dispute about property and intermarriage between families of the opposed parties.

ξυνοικίζουσι —i.e. attempting to make the island into a single πόλις under one government, and in this case, an oligarchy.

ξυγγενῶν — Lesbos being of Boeotian (Aeolic) origin. To intervene on behalf of kinsmen was under all circumstances deemed justifiable among Greek states.

εἰ μή τις —‘unless they mean to,’ the fut. indic. marking the urgency; cf. VIII. 91 εἰ μή τις ἤδη φυλάξεται.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.6

ed. Henry Stuart Jones

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