'With icy remorselessness, it puts paid to any notion that the horrors of modern history might be an aberration - for it tells of universal war, of terrorism, revolution and genocide' Tom Holland
The long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta plunged the ancient Greek world into decades of war. Thucydides was an Athenian and achieved the rank of general in the earlier stages of the war, and in this detailed, first-hand contemporary account he writes as both a soldier and a historian. He applies a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling a factual record of a ruinous conflict that would eventually destroy the Athenian empire.
Translated by Rex Warner with an introduction and notes by M. I. Finley
Translated by Rex Warner with an Introduction and Notes by M. I. FinleyIntroduction
Translator's Note
Book I
Introduction
The Dispute over Epidamnus
The Dispute over Corcyra
The Dispute over Potidaea
The Debate at Sparta and Declaration of War
The Pentecontaetia
The Allied Congress at Sparta
The Stories of Pausanias and Themistocles
The Spartan Ultimatum and Pericles' Reply
Book II
Outbreak of War
The First Year of the War
Pericles' Funeral Oration
The Plague
The Policy of Pericles
The Fall of Potidaea
The Siege of Plataea
Victories of Phormio
Thrace and Macedonia
Book III
Revolt of Mytilene
The Mytilenian Debate
The End of Plataea
Civil War in Corcyra
Operations in Sicily and Greece
End of Sixth Year of War
Book IV
Athenian Success at Pylos
Final Victory at Pylos
Further Athenian Successes
Peace in Sicily
Fighting at Megara
Brasidas in Thrace
Athenian Defeat at Delium
Brasidas Captures Amphipolis
Armistice between Athens and Sparta
End of Ninth Year of War
Book V
Battle of Amphipolis
Peace of Nicias
Negotiations with Argos
Alliance between Athens and Argos
Campaigns in the Peloponnese
Battle of Mantinea
The Melian Dialogue
Book VI
Sicilian Antiquities
Launching of the Sicilian Expedition
The Debate at Syracuse
The Athenians Arrive in Sicily
The Story of Harmodius and Aristogiton
Recall of Alcibiades
Athenian Victory before Syracuse
The Debate at Camarina
Alcibiades in Sparta
More Athenian Successes at Syracuse
Book VII
Gylippus Arrives in Syracuse
Letter of Nicias
Fortification of Decelea
Athenian Defeat in the Great Harbour
Athenian Defeat at Epipolae
Syracusan Victory at Sea
Destruction of the Athenian Expedition
Book VIII
Alarm at Athens
Beginning of Persian Intervention
The Oligarchic Coup
Athenian Victory at Cynossema
Appendices
Bibliography
Maps
Index
