Spartan Expedition against Zacynthus and Withdrawal — Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War Book 2 (2.66.1–2.66.2), Greek & English

§2.66.1

οἱ δὲ Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι τοῦ αὐτοῦ θέρους ἐστράτευσαν ναυσὶν ἑκατὸν ἐς Ζάκυνθον τὴν νῆσον, ἣ κεῖται ἀντιπέρας Ἤλιδος· εἰσὶ¹ δὲ Ἀχαιῶν τῶν ἐκ Πελοποννήσου ἄποικοι καὶ Ἀθηναίοις ξυνεμάχουν.

Meanwhile, the Lacedaemonians and their allies, during the same summer, made an expedition with a hundred ships to the island of Zacynthus, which lies opposite Elis; the inhabitants are colonists of the Achaeans from the Peloponnese and were in alliance with the Athenians.

§2.66.2

ἐπέπλεον δὲ Λακεδαιμονίων χίλιοι ὁπλῖται καὶ Κνῆμος Σπαρτιάτης ναύαρχος. ἀποβάντες δὲ ἐς τὴν γῆν ἐδῄωσαν τὰ πολλά. καὶ ἐπειδὴ οὐ ξυνεχώρουν,² ἀπέπλευσαν ἐπ’ οἴκου.

There sailed on board a thousand Lacedaemonian hoplites and Cnemus, a Spartan, as admiral. Having disembarked on the land, they ravaged most of it. But when the inhabitants would not come to terms, they sailed back home.

Syntax notes2 items

2.66.1εἰσὶ
The verb εἰσὶ is third-person plural; its grammatical subject shifts to the inhabitants of the island, rather than the singular noun Ζάκυνθον τὴν νῆσον, showing a construction according to sense (constructio ad sensum).
2.66.2οὐ ξυνεχώρουν
Imperfect of συγχωρέω (to come to terms, yield). The object (the terms proposed by the Lacedaemonians) is omitted; it means that the Zacynthians 'would not come to terms' or 'refused to yield.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.66.1-2.66.2