Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §6.37.1-6.37.2

Athenagoras on Athenian Weaknesses and Syracusan Superiority

Passage 653 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Athenagoras argues that the defensive capabilities of Syracuse and Sicily far surpass the Athenian expeditionary force, pointing out specific logistical and geographical disadvantages that the Athenians would face.

§6.37.1εἰ δὲ δή, ὥσπερ λέγονται, ἔλθοιεν, ἱκανωτέραν ἡγοῦμαι Σικελίαν Πελοποννήσου διαπολεμῆσαι ὅσῳ κατὰ πάντα ἄμεινον ἐξήρτυται, τὴν δὲ ἡμετέραν πόλιν αὐτὴν τῆς νῦν στρατιᾶς, ὥς φασιν, ἐπιούσης, καὶ εἰ δὶς τοσαύτη ἔλθοι, πολὺ κρείσσω εἶναι, οἷς γ᾽ ἐπίσταμαι οὔθ’ ἵππους ἀκολουθήσοντας, οὐδ’ αὐτόθεν πορισθησομένους εἰ μὴ ὀλίγους τινὰς παρ’ Ἐγεσταίων, οὔθ’ ὁπλίτας ἰσοπληθεῖς τοῖς ἡμετέροις ἐπὶ νεῶν γε ἐλθόντας (μέγα γὰρ τὸ καὶ αὐταῖς ταῖς ναυσὶ κούφαις τοσοῦτον πλοῦν δεῦρο κομισθῆναι), τήν τε ἄλλην παρασκευὴν ὅσην δεῖ ἐπὶ πόλιν τοσήνδε πορισθῆναι, οὐκ ὀλίγην οὖσαν.

But if indeed they should come, as they are said to be coming, I think Sicily is more capable of carrying through the war than the Peloponnese, in as much as she is better equipped in every respect; and that our city by itself is far stronger than the army which is now said to be coming against us, even if another of twice its size should come. For I know that they will have no horses accompanying them, nor will any be procured here except for a few from the Egestaeans; nor will they bring on board their ships a force of hoplites equal to ours (for it is a great thing even for the ships themselves, light and unladen, to perform so long a voyage hither); and as for the rest of the preparation, which must be provided against so great a city, it is of no small amount.

§6.37.2ὥστε, παρὰ τοσοῦτον γιγνώσκω, μόλις ἄν μοι δοκοῦσιν, εἰ πόλιν ἑτέραν τοσαύτην ὅσαι Συράκουσαί εἰσιν ἔλθοιεν ἔχοντες καὶ ὅμορον οἰκίσαντες τὸν πόλεμον ποιοῖντο, οὐκ ἂν παντάπασι διαφθαρῆναι, ἦ πού γε δὴ ἐν πάσῃ πολεμίᾳ Σικελίᾳ (ξυστήσεται γάρ) στρατοπέδῳ τε ἐκ νεῶν ἱδρυθέντι καὶ ἐκ σκηνιδίων καὶ ἀναγκαίας παρασκευῆς οὐκ ἐπὶ πολὺ ὑπὸ τῶν ἡμετέρων ἱππέων ἐξιόντες.

So that, I am so far from having any doubt, that I think they would scarcely, even if they came with another city as large as Syracuse, and settling on our borders carried on the war thence, escape being utterly destroyed; how much less then in a Sicily completely hostile (for she will unite against them), when they are lodged in a camp established from ships and miserable tents, with only indispensable supplies, and unable to stir far abroad by reason of our cavalry!

τό τε ξύμπαν οὐδ’ ἂν κρατῆσαι αὐτοὺς τῆς γῆς ἡγοῦμαι· τοσούτῳ τὴν ἡμετέραν παρασκευὴν κρείσσω νομίζω.

In short, I believe they could not even get possession of the country, so far superior do I deem our preparation.

Notes

6.37.1τῆς νῦν στρατιᾶς — A genitive of comparison depending on the subsequent comparative adjective `κρείσσω`. While a genitive absolute interpretation is grammatically possible, interpreting it as a genitive of comparison is much more natural given the direct military comparison in the context.
6.37.1οἷς γ᾽ ἐπίσταμαι — `οἷς` is a relative pronoun in the dative, referring to the Athenians (dative of possession or reference). It is followed by the verb `ἐπίσταμαι` (I know) governing future participle clauses such as `ἀκολουθήσοντας` and `ἐλθόντας` in indirect discourse.
6.37.2παρὰ τοσοῦτον — An adverbial phrase meaning 'to such an extent' or 'by so much'. While often used in the sense of 'by a narrow margin' or 'within a hair's breadth', here it is paired with the subsequent `ὥστε` to emphasize the high degree of the speaker's confidence.
6.37.2μόλις ἄν — The particle `ἄν` is doubled, applying both near `δοκοῦσιν` and with `διαφθαρῆναι` (hyperbaton/iteration), emphasizing the potential conclusion to the conditional clause `εἰ ... ποιοῖντο`. The combination of `μόλις` and `οὐκ ἂν ... διαφθαρῆναι` means 'they would scarcely escape being utterly destroyed'.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §6.37.1-6.37.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.37.1-6.37.2

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