A Manual of Ancient HistoryThalheimer, M. E. (Mary Elsie)
History
A Manual of Ancient History
Thalheimer, M. E. (Mary Elsie)
History, Ancient
=142.= A second time the Spartans asked the aid of Athens in their
servile war, and Cimon again led an army to their relief. But the
superiority of the Athenians in siege operations aroused the envy of the
Lacedæmonians, even when employed in their defense; and the long siege
of Ithome afforded time for the rivalries of the two nations to break out
into open feuds. The Spartans declared that they had no further need of
the Athenians, and dismissed their troops. Other allies were retained,
including Ægina, the ancient rival of Athens. The latter, considering
herself insulted, made an alliance with the Argives and the Aleuads of
Thessaly against Sparta. The Hellenic treasury was removed from Delos to
Athens, for safe keeping, it was said, against the needy and rapacious
hands of the Spartans.
[Illustration: WEST VIEW OF THE ACROPOLIS.
_Pelasgian Walls._ _Erechtheum._ _Athena Promachos._ _Parthenon._ _Walls
of Cimon._
_Cave of Pan._ _Propylæa._ _Temple of Nike Apteros._]
The popular resentment naturally extended itself to Cimon. The favor with
which he was regarded in Sparta was now his greatest crime. The Athenians
had indeed some reason to fear, for the Spartan nobles always maintained
a party in their city who were supposed to be secretly plotting against
its free government. However honestly Cimon supported aristocratic
principles, the people, with equal honesty and greater wisdom, opposed
him. He was subjected to the ostracism and banished for ten years.
RECAPITULATION.
The power of Athens was increased by the Persian war; and her
home government, which had been confined to the nobles, was
thrown open to the people. Themistocles rebuilt the walls and
improved the harbor. Pausanias, becoming a traitor, died of
starvation in the temple of Athena, at Sparta. Athens became
the chief of the Hellenic League, whose seat and treasury were
at Delos. Cimon, son of Miltiades, in command of the allied
forces, captured Eion, cleared Scyros of pirates, subdued
rebellions in Carystus and Naxos, and conquered the Persians,
both on sea and land, in the battle of the Eurymedon. He
beautified Athens by a liberal use of his enormous wealth,
and improved the military and naval discipline of his
fellow-citizens, at the expense of their allies. Themistocles,
exiled through suspicion, took refuge in the Persian dominion,
where he died. Sparta suffered a double calamity, in an
earthquake and a servile rebellion, known as the Third
Messenian War. Her insulting treatment of her Athenian aids
destroyed the popularity of Cimon; and Pericles, the most
accomplished of the Athenians, rose into power.
SUPREMACY OF ATHENS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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