- Source
- Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.18.1-5.18.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-01
The specific terms of the fifty-year peace treaty (Peace of Nicias) between Athens and Lacedaemon are presented, regulating the autonomy of sanctuaries, territorial restorations, prisoner exchanges, and procedures for renewing the oath.
‘σπονδὰς ἐποιήσαντο Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι κατὰ τάδε, καὶ ὤμοσαν κατὰ πόλεις.
‘The Athenians and Lacedaemonians and their allies made a treaty of peace on the following terms, and swore to it city by city.
περὶ μὲν τῶν ἱερῶν τῶν κοινῶν, θύειν καὶ ἰέναι καὶ μαντεύεσθαι καὶ θεωρεῖν1 κατὰ τὰ πάτρια τὸν βουλόμενον καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν ἀδεῶς. τὸ δ’ ἱερὸν καὶ τὸν νεὼν τὸν ἐν Δελφοῖς τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Δελφοὺς αὐτονόμους εἶναι καὶ αὐτοτελεῖς καὶ αὐτοδίκους καὶ αὑτῶν καὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἑαυτῶν2 κατὰ τὰ πάτρια.
As to the common temples, anyone who wishes shall be allowed to sacrifice, visit, consult the oracle, and attend the games, according to ancestral customs, without fear, both by land and by sea. The temple and sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and the Delphians, shall be autonomous, self-taxing, and self-judging, both in respect of themselves and of their own territory, according to ancestral customs.
ἔτη δὲ εἶναι τὰς σπονδὰς πεντήκοντα Ἀθηναίοις καὶ τοῖς ξυμμάχοις τοῖς Ἀθηναίων καὶ Λακεδαιμονίοις καὶ τοῖς ξυμμάχοις τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίων ἀδόλους καὶ ἀβλαβεῖς καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν.
The treaty shall be in force for fifty years between the Athenians and the allies of the Athenians, and the Lacedaemonians and the allies of the Lacedaemonians, without guile and without injury, both by land and by sea.
ὅπλα δὲ μὴ ἐξέστω ἐπιφέρειν ἐπὶ πημονῇ μήτε Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους ἐπ᾽ Ἀθηναίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους μήτε Ἀθηναίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους ἐπὶ Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους, μήτε τέχνῃ μήτε μηχανῇ μηδεμιᾷ. ἢν δέ τι διάφορον ᾖ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, δικαίῳ χρήσθων καὶ ὅρκοις, καθ’ ὅτι ἂν ξυνθῶνται.
It shall not be lawful to bear arms for injury, either for the Lacedaemonians and their allies against the Athenians and their allies, or for the Athenians and their allies against the Lacedaemonians and their allies, by any art or device whatsoever. If any dispute arises between them, they shall settle it by judicial process and oaths, in whatever way they may agree.
ἀποδόντων3 δὲ Ἀθηναίοις Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι Ἀμφίπολιν. ὅσας δὲ πόλεις παρέδοσαν Λακεδαιμόνιοι Ἀθηναίοις, ἐξέστω ἀπιέναι ὅποι ἂν βούλωνται αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ἔχοντας· τὰς δὲ πόλεις φερούσας τὸν φόρον τὸν ἐπ’ Ἀριστείδου αὐτονόμους εἶναι. ὅπλα δὲ μὴ ἐξέστω ἐπιφέρειν Ἀθηναίους μηδὲ τοὺς ξυμμάχους ἐπὶ κακῷ, ἀποδιδόντων τὸν φόρον,4 ἐπειδὴ αἱ σπονδαὶ ἐγένοντο. εἰσὶ δὲ Ἄργιλος, Στάγιρος, Ἄκανθος, Σκῶλος, Ὄλυνθος, Σπάρτωλος. ξυμμάχους δ’ εἶναι μηδετέρων, μήτε Λακεδαιμονίων μήτε Ἀθηναίων· ἢν δὲ Ἀθηναῖοι πείθωσι τὰς πόλεις, βουλομένας ταύτας ἐξέστω ξυμμάχους ποιεῖσθαι αὐτοὺς Ἀθηναίοις.
The Lacedaemonians and their allies shall restore Amphipolis to the Athenians. In the case of all the cities which the Lacedaemonians hand over to the Athenians, the inhabitants shall be free to go wherever they please, themselves and their property; and these cities shall be autonomous, paying the tribute assessed in the time of Aristides. It shall not be lawful for the Athenians or their allies to bear arms against them to their hurt, as long as they pay the tribute, since the treaty has been made. These cities are Argilus, Stagirus, Acanthus, Scolus, Olynthus, and Spartolus. They shall be allies of neither side, neither of the Lacedaemonians nor of the Athenians; but if the Athenians persuade these cities, and they are willing, it shall be lawful for the Athenians to make them their allies.
Μηκυβερναίους δὲ καὶ Σαναίους καὶ Σιγγαίους οἰκεῖν τὰς πόλεις τὰς ἑαυτῶν, καθάπερ Ὀλύνθιοι καὶ Ἀκάνθιοι.
The Mecybernaeans, Sanaeans, and Singaeans shall inhabit their own cities, just as the Olynthians and Acanthians.
ἀποδόντων δὲ Ἀθηναίοις Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι Πάνακτον. ἀποδόντων δὲ καὶ Ἀθηναῖοι Λακεδαιμονίοις Κορυφάσιον καὶ Κύθηρα καὶ Μέθανα καὶ Πτελεὸν καὶ Ἀταλάντην καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας ὅσοι εἰσὶ Λακεδαιμονίων ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ τῷ Ἀθηναίων ἢ ἄλλοθί που ὅσης Ἀθηναῖοι ἄρχουσιν5 ἐν δημοσίῳ· καὶ τοὺς ἐν Σκιώνῃ πολιορκουμένους Πελοποννησίων ἀφεῖναι καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ὅσοι Λακεδαιμονίων ξύμμαχοι ἐν Σκιώνῃ εἰσὶ καὶ ὅσους Βρασίδας ἐσέπεμψε καὶ εἴ τις τῶν ξυμμάχων τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων ἐν Ἀθήναις ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ ἢ ἄλλοθί που ἧς Ἀθηναῖοι ἄρχουσιν ἐν δημοσίῳ. ἀποδόντων δὲ καὶ Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι οὕστινας ἔχουσιν Ἀθηναίων καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων κατὰ ταὐτά.
The Lacedaemonians and their allies shall restore Panactum to the Athenians. The Athenians shall also restore to the Lacedaemonians Coryphasium, Cythera, Methana, Pteleum, and Atalanta, and all the men of the Lacedaemonians who are in the public prison of the Athenians or anywhere else in public custody in any place ruled by the Athenians; and they shall release the Peloponnesians besieged in Scione, and all others who are allies of the Lacedaemonians in Scione, and those whom Brasidas sent in, and any of the allies of the Lacedaemonians who are in Athens in the public prison or anywhere else in public custody in any place ruled by the Athenians. The Lacedaemonians and their allies shall also restore on the same terms any of the Athenians and their allies whom they hold.
Σκιωναίων δὲ καὶ Τορωναίων καὶ Σερμυλιῶν καὶ εἴ τινα ἄλλην πόλιν ἔχουσιν Ἀθηναῖοι, Ἀθηναίους βουλεύεσθαι περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πόλεων ὅτι ἂν δοκῇ αὐτοῖς.
In the case of the Scionaeans, Toronaeans, and Sermylians, and any other city which the Athenians hold, the Athenians shall decide concerning them and the other cities as they think fit.
ὅρκους δὲ ποιήσασθαι Ἀθηναίους πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους κατὰ πόλεις. ὀμνύντων δὲ τὸν ἐπιχώριον ὅρκον ἑκάτεροι τὸν μέγιστον ἑπτὰ καὶ δέκα ἑκάστης πόλεως. ὁ δ’ ὅρκος ἔστω ὅδε· “ἐμμενῶ ταῖς ξυνθήκαις καὶ ταῖς σπονδαῖς ταῖσδε δικαίως καὶ ἀδόλως.” ἔστω δὲ Λακεδαιμονίοις καὶ τοῖς ξυμμάχοις κατὰ ταὐτὰ ὅρκος πρὸς Ἀθηναίους, τὸν δὲ ὅρκον ἀνανεοῦσθαι κατ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ἀμφοτέρους. στήλας δὲ στῆσαι Ὀλυμπίασι καὶ Πυθοῖ καὶ Ἰσθμοῖ καὶ Ἀθήνησιν ἐν πόλει καὶ ἐν Λακεδαίμονι ἐν Ἀμυκλαίῳ.
The Athenians shall make oaths to the Lacedaemonians and their allies, city by city. Each side shall swear their most solemn native oath, seventeen representatives from each city. The oath shall be as follows: “I will abide by these covenants and this treaty, justly and without guile.” The oath of the Lacedaemonians and their allies to the Athenians shall be on the same terms. Both sides shall renew the oath every year. They shall set up pillars at Olympia, Pytho, the Isthmus, at Athens on the Acropolis, and at Lacedaemon in the Amyclaeum.
εἰ δέ τι ἀμνημονοῦσιν ὁποτεροιοῦν καὶ ὅτου πέρι, λόγοις δικαίοις χρωμένοις εὔορκον εἶναι6 ἀμφοτέροις ταύτῃ μεταθεῖναι ὅπῃ ἂν δοκῇ ἀμφοτέροις, Ἀθηναίοις καὶ Λακεδαιμονίοις.
If they have forgotten anything, about whatever matter it may be, it shall be consistent with their oath for both sides, by fair discussion, to make such alterations as may seem fit to both sides, the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians.’
- 5.18.2θύειν καὶ ἰέναι καὶ μαντεύεσθαι καὶ θεωρεῖν
This series of infinitives is used as 'imperative infinitives' to express legal commands or agreements in treaty language, without the need to supply a governing finite verb.
- 5.18.2αὑτῶν καὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἑαυτῶν
This genitive phrase depends on the preceding adjectives indicating independence (such as αὐτονόμους). It functions as a genitive of respect or restriction, meaning 'both in respect of themselves and of their own territory' without a preposition.
- 5.18.5ἀποδόντων
A third-person plural active imperative (using the older Attic ending -ντων), expressing a legal obligation under the treaty: 'they shall restore'.
- 5.18.5ἀποδιδόντων τὸν φόρον
The participle ἀποδιδόντων functions conditionally or restrictively: 'provided that they pay the tribute' or 'as long as they pay the tribute', indicating that the protection guaranteed by the treaty is conditional.
- 5.18.7ὅσης Ἀθηναῖοι ἄρχουσιν
The relative pronoun ὅσης is in the genitive due to 'relative attraction', matching the implicit genitive of the place or territory implied by the antecedent phrase ἄλλοθί που ('anywhere else').
- 5.18.11εὔορκον εἶναι
An impersonal construction meaning 'it shall be consistent with their oath' or 'it shall not be a violation of the oath'. It specifies that future mutually agreed modifications will not constitute perjury.