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Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §8.36.1-8.36.2

Astyochus' Arrival and Drafting of a New Persian Treaty

Passage 844 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Upon Astyochus' arrival in Miletus, the Peloponnesians are well-provisioned but, finding the first treaty with Tissaphernes unfavorable, they draft a new one in the presence of Therimenes.

§8.36.1ὑπὸ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον Ἀστυόχου ἥκοντος ἐς τὴν Μίλητον ἐπὶ τὸ ναυτικὸν οἱ Πελοποννήσιοι εὐπόρως ἔτι εἶχον ἅπαντα τὰ κατὰ τὸ στρατόπεδον· καὶ γὰρ μισθὸς ἐδίδοτο ἀρκούντως καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῆς Ἰάσου μεγάλα χρήματα διαρπασθέντα ὑπῆν τοῖς στρατιώταις, οἵ τε Μιλήσιοι προθύμως τὰ τοῦ πολέμου ἔφερον.
About the same time, when Astyochus arrived at Miletus to take command of the fleet, the Peloponnesians were still well provided in all things regarding their camp; for pay was sufficiently given, and the large amount of money plundered from Iasos was at the disposal of the soldiers, while the Milesians also zealously bore the expenses of the war.
§8.36.2πρὸς δὲ τὸν Τισσαφέρνην ἐδόκουν ὅμως τοῖς Πελοποννησίοις αἱ πρῶται ξυνθῆκαι αἱ πρὸς Χαλκιδέα γενόμεναι ἐνδεεῖς εἶναι καὶ οὐ πρὸς σφῶν μᾶλλον, καὶ ἄλλας ἔτι Θηριμένους παρόντος ἐποίουν·
Nevertheless, the first treaty made with Tissaphernes through Chalcideus seemed to the Peloponnesians to be defective and not rather in their own favor; therefore, they made another one while Therimenes was present.
καὶ εἰσὶν αἵδε.
And it is as follows.

Notes

  1. 8.36.1Ἀστυόχου ἥκοντος — Genitive absolute indicating time ("when Astyochus arrived").
  2. 8.36.1εὐπόρως ἔτι εἶχον — A combination of the adverb εὐπόρως and ἔχω ("to be in a state of"). Here, ἅπαντα τὰ κατὰ τὸ στρατόπεδον functions as an accusative of respect or relation, meaning "they were well off in all matters regarding the camp."
  3. 8.36.2οὐ πρὸς σφῶν μᾶλλον — The preposition πρὸς with the genitive σφῶν (themselves, i.e., the Peloponnesians) means "in their favor / to their advantage." Combined with οὐ and μᾶλλον, it literally means "not rather in their favor," presenting a mild negation.
  4. 8.36.2Θηριμένους παρόντος — Genitive absolute indicating attendant circumstance ("while Therimenes was present" / "in the presence of Therimenes"), highlighting his involvement in the drafting of this new treaty.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §8.36.1-8.36.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.36.1-8.36.2

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