Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.
The bulk of the inhabitants, upon hearing this, began to change their
minds, especially as only a small number of the citizens were
Athenians, the majority having come from different quarters, and many
of the prisoners outside had relations within the walls. They found the
proclamation a fair one in comparison of what their fear had suggested;
the Athenians being glad to go out, as they thought they ran more risk
than the rest, and further, did not expect any speedy relief, and the
multitude generally being content at being left in possession of their
civic rights, and at such an unexpected reprieve from danger. The
partisans of Brasidas now openly advocated this course, seeing that the
feeling of the people had changed, and that they no longer gave ear to
the Athenian general present; and thus the surrender was made and
Brasidas was admitted by them on the terms of his proclamation. In this
way they gave up the city, and late in the same day Thucydides and his
ships entered the harbour of Eion, Brasidas having just got hold of
Amphipolis, and having been within a night of taking Eion: had the
ships been less prompt in relieving it, in the morning it would have
been his.
After this Thucydides put all in order at Eion to secure it against any
present or future attack of Brasidas, and received such as had elected
to come there from the interior according to the terms agreed on.
Meanwhile Brasidas suddenly sailed with a number of boats down the
river to Eion to see if he could not seize the point running out from
the wall, and so command the entrance; at the same time he attempted it
by land, but was beaten off on both sides and had to content himself
with arranging matters at Amphipolis and in the neighbourhood.
Myrcinus, an Edonian town, also came over to him; the Edonian king
Pittacus having been killed by the sons of Goaxis and his own wife
Brauro; and Galepsus and Oesime, which are Thasian colonies, not long
after followed its example. Perdiccas too came up immediately after the
capture and joined in these arrangements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account