Читать книгу A Companion to Greek Warfare - Группа авторов - Страница 60

Because of its fertile soils and its position as a trading hub in the western Mediterranean, Sicily was of interest for the Athenians also. Alliances with Sicilian cities, including the Elymian town of Egesta and the polis of Leontini (Thuc. 6.6.2), date back to 454. Athens became a significant force in southern Italy with the Panhellenic foundation of Thurii in 443 under its Athenian oikistes Lampon, who also aided Catane against an expanding Syracuse during the late 430s (Justin 4.3). These early interventions on Sicilian soil were undertaken to secure a position on the island and to discourage an alliance between Syracuse and Sparta. Several years later, Athens was again summoned by her ally Leontini (Thuc. 3.86). The expedition of 427 followed. The Athenian fleet established a base in Rhegium and conducted several campaigns to the Aeolian Islands and Mylae (Thuc. 3.90). No battles against Syracuse are attested, and the peace of Gela in 424 prevented further interference in Sicilian politics (Thuc. 4.65).

A new opportunity presented itself in 415, when Egesta and Leontini asked for assistance against the expansionist policies of Selinus and Syracuse (Thuc. 6.6). Despite cautionary voices, the Athenians agreed on a military campaign against Syracuse and assembled an army of considerable size under the leadership of Nicias, Alcibiades, and Lamachus. The enterprise was ill fated, as the Athenians could not find allies in Magna Graecia and Egesta defaulted on promised money (Thuc. 6.46). After skirmishes against secondary settlements on the coastline, the Athenians set up base in Catane and prepared for battle. The first military encounter, near the extra-urban Olympieum, proved victorious for the Athenians, who were superior in tactics and military skill (Thuc. 6.65–72). During the following winter, however, Hermocrates reformed the military leadership in Syracuse, reinforced the fortifications, and sent envoys for help to Corinth and Sparta (Thuc. 6.72–73, 6.75).

In the summer of 414, the Athenians attacked again and occupied the high plateau of the Epipolae to the north of Syracuse (Thuc. 6.97). While the Athenians quickly built a semicircular wall from the Epipolae to the Great Harbor to cut off the supply routes of Syracuse, the besieged polis erected a counter wall to the north of the high plateau and prevented the Athenians from reaching the coastline. The Syracusans thus secured vital supplies. During the following winter, Syracuse supplemented and improved their fleet with support from Corinth and nearly all Sicilian cities (Thuc. 7.36). While Athens also received reinforcements, they suffered setbacks and disease due to the unfavorable position of their camp near marshland (Thuc. 7.46–47). They failed to retreat to Catane and reassemble their forces, since the Syracusans blocked the harbor and any escape by sea. A desperate attempt to break free failed, and a retreat overland succumbed to an attack by the Syracusan coalition. The Sicilian Expedition ended in a crushing defeat for the Athenians, most of whom were killed or sold into slavery (Thuc. 7.75–86). Athens made no further Athenian attempt to influence Sicilian affairs.¹⁰