The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
World history
The glory of Naxos, however, was a sufficient. And while it was not so
momentous a success as Conon’s at the battle of Cnidus, it was more
savoury to the Athenians, because it had been won by a fleet not of
Asiatics merely commanded by an Athenian, but altogether by Athenian
ships and men. In this battle the command of the left wing was given to
Phocion, who looms large in later Athenian history. This success at Naxos
in the year 376 relieved Athens of famine, re-established her prestige
on the sea, and brought seventeen new cities around the Ægean Sea into
the confederacy, together with a large contribution. In the same year
the Athenians also punished an insurrection at Delos where the renewal
of her authority was not entirely welcome. Preparations were now made
for a circumnavigation of the Peloponnesus with a fleet under Pinotenus.
In 375 he sailed and brought over to the Athenian alliance the islands
of Corcyra and Cephallenia, a part of Acarnania, and the king of the
Molossians. At Alyzia, Timotheus with his sixty galleys was attacked by
the Spartan Nicolochus, with fifty-five galleys. The Athenian won this
encounter, but declined a later challenge, and increased his fleet to
seventy sail.
[Illustration: GREEK WARRIOR IN TRAVELLING COSTUME
(After Hope)]
The expedition had succeeded in the purpose that had led the Thebans
to suggest it, that is, it had prevented Sparta from making her usual
incursion into Bœotia. Athens, however, found the fleet a very heavy
and irksome expense, and each captain of a trireme was compelled to
advance £28 or $140 towards the payment of his crew. The Athenians now
suggested that the Thebans make some payment towards the cost of an
expedition which had been of such economy to them; but they declined the
opportunity, and Athens, in a not unnatural pique, turned towards Sparta.
In 374 a peace was agreed to, but was broken at once owing to the fact
that Timotheus interfered at Zacynthus and brought down the wrath of
Sparta. So the war went on.
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