Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §2.1.1

Outbreak of the War and Chronological Method

Passage 147 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Announcing the formal beginning of the Peloponnesian War, the author declares his methodological approach of recording the events chronologically by summers and winters.

§2.1.1ἄρχεται δὲ ὁ πόλεμος ἐνθένδε ἤδη Ἀθηναίων καὶ Πελοποννησίων καὶ τῶν ἑκατέροις ξυμμάχων, ἐν ᾧ οὔτε ἐπεμείγνυντο ἔτι ἀκηρυκτεὶ παρ᾽ ἀλλήλους καταστάντες τε ξυνεχῶς ἐπολέμουν·
The war between the Athenians and the Peloponnesians and their respective allies begins from this point onward, during which they no longer had intercourse with one another without a herald, and, having entered into a state of war, fought continuously.
γέγραπται δὲ ἑξῆς ὡς ἕκαστα ἐγίγνετο κατὰ θέρος καὶ χειμῶνα.
It has been written down in order, as each event occurred, by summers and winters.

Notes

  1. §2.1.1καταστάντες — The second aorist active participle (masculine nominative plural) of καθίστημι, meaning 'having established themselves' or 'having entered into a state of war.' It modifies the subject of the main verb ἐπολέμουν and indicates the initiation of formal, continuous hostilities.
  2. §2.1.1κατὰ θέρος καὶ χειμῶνα — This expression states Thucydides' methodological principle of organizing his history by seasons. The preposition κατά functions distributively ('by' or 'according to'), dividing each year into 'summer' (the campaigning season) and 'winter' (the period of reduced military activity).

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §2.1.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.1.1

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