Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §4.132.1-4.132.3

Perdiccas' Alliance with Athens and Spartan Envoys

Passage 497 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Perdiccas concludes an agreement with the Athenians and blocks the passage of Spartan reinforcements through Thessaly, while Lacedaemonian commissioners arrive at Brasidas' quarters and appoint governors for the cities.

§4.132.1περιτειχιζομένης δὲ τῆς Σκιώνης Περδίκκας τοῖς τῶν Ἀθηναίων στρατηγοῖς ἐπικηρυκευσάμενος ὁμολογίαν ποιεῖται πρὸς τοὺς Ἀθηναίους διὰ τὴν τοῦ Βρασίδου ἔχθραν περὶ τῆς ἐκ τῆς Λύγκου ἀναχωρήσεως, εὐθὺς τότε ἀρξάμενος πράσσειν.

While Scione was being circumvallated, Perdiccas, having sent heralds to the Athenian generals, made an agreement with the Athenians. This was due to his enmity toward Brasidas over the retreat from Lyncus, negotiations for which he had begun immediately at that time.

§4.132.2καὶ (ἐτύγχανε γὰρ τότε Ἰσχαγόρας ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος στρατιὰν μέλλων πεζῇ πορεύσειν ὡς Βρασίδαν) ὁ [δὲ] Περδίκκας, ἅμα μὲν κελεύοντος τοῦ Νικίου, ἐπειδὴ ξυνεβεβήκει, ἔνδηλόν τι ποιεῖν τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις βεβαιότητος πέρι, ἅμα δ’ αὐτὸς οὐκέτι βουλόμενος Πελοποννησίους ἐς τὴν αὑτοῦ ἀφικνεῖσθαι, παρασκευάσας τοὺς ἐν Θεσσαλίᾳ ξένους,χρώμενος αἰεὶ τοῖς πρώτοις, διεκώλυσε τὸ στράτευμα καὶ τὴν παρασκευήν, ὥστε μηδὲ πειρᾶσθαι Θεσσαλῶν.

And (for Ischagoras the Lacedaemonian happened at that time to be about to lead an army by land to Brasidas), Perdiccas—partly because Nicias urged him, since an agreement had been reached, to give some manifest proof to the Athenians of his reliability, and partly because he himself no longer wished the Peloponnesians to enter his own territory—secured the cooperation of his guest-friends in Thessaly, always dealing with the leading men, and blocked the passage of the army and their preparations, so that they did not even make an attempt on the Thessalians' territory.

§4.132.3Ἰσχαγόρας μέντοι καὶ Ἀμεινίας καὶ Ἀριστεὺς αὐτοί τε ὡς Βρασίδαν ἀφίκοντο, ἐπιδεῖν πεμψάντων Λακεδαιμονίων τὰ πράγματα, καὶ τῶν ἡβώντων αὐτῶν παρανόμως ἄνδρας ἐξῆγον ἐκ Σπάρτης, ὥστε τῶν πόλεων ἄρχοντας καθιστάναι καὶ μὴ τοῖς ἐντυχοῦσιν ἐπιτρέπειν.

Ischagoras, however, along with Ameinias and Aristeus, arrived in person at Brasidas' quarters, having been sent by the Lacedaemonians to inspect the state of affairs; and they brought with them from Sparta, contrary to law, men from among their youth, so that they might appoint them as governors of the cities and not entrust them to whoever happened to be there.

καὶ Κλεαρίδαν μὲν τὸν Κλεωνύμου καθίστησιν ἐν Ἀμφιπόλει, Πασιτελίδαν δὲ τὸν Ἡγησάνδρου ἐν Τορώνῃ.

And he (Brasidas) established Clearidas son of Cleonymus in Amphipolis, and Pasitelidas son of Hegesander in Torone.

Notes

§4.132.2ὥστε μηδὲ πειρᾶσθαι Θεσσαλῶν — The genitive `Θεσσαλῶν` is governed by the infinitive `πειρᾶσθαι`. It means "to make an attempt on the Thessalians (their territory)." It implies that because Perdiccas had secured the cooperation of the leading Thessalians, the Spartan army gave up even attempting to pass through their territory.
§4.132.3τῶν ἡβώντων αὐτῶν — A partitive genitive modifying the following `ἄνδρας`. `αὐτῶν` refers to the Spartans (Lacedaemonians). Since Spartan law and custom did not normally allow those who had just reached manhood (`ἡβώντες`) to be appointed as overseas governors, the adverb `παρανόμως` (contrary to law) is added.
§4.132.3καθίστησιν — Since the verb `καθίστησιν` is singular, its subject is not the plural subject of the preceding sentence (Ischagoras and his colleagues), but Brasidas, who was mentioned just before. As the overall commander on the spot, Brasidas was the one who actually established the governors.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §4.132.1-4.132.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.132.1-4.132.3

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