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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §15.27.1-15.27.4

Surrender of Cadmea and Sparta's Punishment

Passage 439 of 723 · Greek

Summary

The Lacedaemonian garrison in Cadmeia surrendered due to food shortages, handing over the acropolis to the Thebans. The Lacedaemonian relief force arrived too late, and the three commanders were severely punished.

§15.27.1οἱ δʼ ἐν τῇ Καδμείᾳ φρουροῦντες παρακληθέντες ὑπὸ τῶν ἡγεμόνων εὐρώστως ἠμύνοντο τοὺς πολεμίους, ἐλπίζοντες συντόμως ἥξειν τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους μετὰ μεγάλης δυνάμεως.
Those who were on guard in the Cadmeia, encouraged by their commanders, defended themselves vigorously against the enemy, hoping that the Lacedaemonians would arrive shortly with a large force.
ἕως μὲν οὖν εἶχον τροφὰς ἱκανάς, ἐνεκαρτέρουν τοῖς δεινοῖς, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν πολιορκούντων ἀπέκτεινον καὶ κατετραυμάτιζον, συνεργὸν ἔχοντες τὴν τῆς ἀκροπόλεως ὀχυρότητα· ὡς δʼ ἡ μὲν τῶν ἀναγκαίων σπάνις ἐπέτεινεν, οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι δὲ περὶ τὰς παρασκευὰς ὄντες ἐχρόνιζον, ἐστασίαζον πρὸς ἀλλήλους.
As long, therefore, as they had sufficient provisions, they held out against their hardships, and killed and wounded many of the besiegers, having the strength of the acropolis as an ally; but when the scarcity of necessities became acute, and the Lacedaemonians, being occupied with preparations, delayed, they began to mutiny against one another.
§15.27.2οἱ μὲν γὰρ Λακεδαιμόνιοι μέχρι θανάτου καρτερεῖν ᾤοντο δεῖν, οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν συμμαχίδων πόλεων συστρατεύσαντες, ὄντες πολλαπλάσιοι, παραδιδόναι τὴν Καδμείαν ἀπεφήναντο· συνηναγκάσθησαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς Σπάρτης, ὄντες ὀλίγοι, παραχωρῆσαι τῆς ἀκροπόλεως.
For the Lacedaemonians thought they ought to endure until death, but those who had joined the campaign from the allied cities, who were many times more numerous, declared that they should surrender the Cadmeia; and those from Sparta itself, being few, were also forced to yield the acropolis.
διόπερ οὗτοι μὲν ὑπόσπονδοι καθʼ ὁμολογίαν ἀφεθέντες εἰς τὴν Πελοπόννησον ἀπηλλάγησαν,
Therefore, these were dismissed under a truce according to an agreement and departed for the Peloponnese.
§15.27.3οἱ δὲ Λακεδαιμόνιοι δυνάμεσιν ἀξιολόγοις προσιόντες ἐπὶ τὰς Θήβας, καὶ βραχὺ τῶν καιρῶν ὑστερήσαντες, ἄπρακτον ἔσχον τὴν ἐπιβολήν.
But the Lacedaemonians, who were marching against Thebes with notable forces, having missed the critical moment by a little, found their attempt of no avail.
τοὺς δὲ ἡγεμόνας τῆς φρουρᾶς τρεῖς ὄντας μετέστησαν εἰς κρίσιν, καὶ τοὺς μὲν δύο κατεδίκασαν θανάτῳ, τὸν μέντοι τρίτον τοσούτῳ πλήθει χρημάτων, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ τοσαῦτα χρήματα ἐκτῖσαι.
They brought the three commanders of the garrison to trial, and condemned two of them to death, but the third they fined such a large sum of money that his property was unable to pay so much.
§15.27.4μετὰ δὲ ταῦτʼ Ἀθηναῖοι μὲν ἐπανῆλθον εἰς τὴν πατρίδα, Θηβαῖοι δὲ Θεσπιὰς πολιορκήσαντες ἄπρακτον ἔσχον τὴν ἐπιβολήν.
After these events, the Athenians returned to their homeland, and the Thebans besieged Thespiae but had their attempt of no avail.
ἅμα δὲ τούτοις πραττομένοις Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ἐπὶ ἀτελείᾳ πεντακοσίους ἀποίκους εἰς Σαρδονίαν ἀπέστειλαν.
While these things were being done, the Romans sent five hundred colonists to Sardinia under exemption from taxation.

Notes

  1. 15.27.1συνεργὸν ἔχοντες τὴν τῆς ἀκροπόλεως ὀχυρότητα — The direct object of the participle `ἔχοντες` is `τὴν τῆς ἀκροπόλεως ὀχυρότητα` (the strength of the acropolis), while `συνεργόν` (helpful, ally) functions as a predicative accusative (object complement), meaning "having the strength of the acropolis as an ally."
  2. 15.27.3βραχὺ τῶν καιρῶν ὑστερήσαντες — The verb `ὑστερέω` (to lag behind, miss) governs the genitive of separation or comparison `τῶν καιρῶν` (critical moments, opportunities). `βραχύ` is an adverbial accusative of degree meaning "by a little."
  3. 15.27.3τὸν μέντοι τρίτον τοσούτῳ πλήθει — The verb `κατεδίκασαν` (condemned) from the preceding clause is understood, with `τὸν... τρίτον` acting as its direct object, and `τοσούτῳ πλήθει` as the dative of penalty representing the punishment imposed.

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §15.27.1-15.27.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc4:15.27.1-15.27.4

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