We go back to the year 430 BC. The Ancient Greeks were
squabbling again. City states joined together against each other ...
Corinth, Thebes, Delos, Corcyra, Plataea ... all took sides. Sparta
and Athens were the greatest city states. Both had trouble in
finding food to feed their people. The soil on the land surrounding
their cities was too poor to grow grain.
So they joined with
the other city states
who had better land
and could grow enough
food in exchange for
being protected by
Athens or Sparta.
Athens had a very
powerful navy. Sparta
and its friends became
worried that Athens
was becoming too
strong.
If they didn't attack
Athens soon, Athens
would soon rule them
all.
The year is 430 BC. The Spartan army has just invaded Attica,
which is the area around Athens. The Athenians know that the
Spartan army is too strong for them and have locked themselves
inside the city instead of fighting. They hope the Spartans will
just give up and go away. But a terrible plague has broken out in
Athens and many people are dying ... try as they might, the
Spartans cannot get into Athens. The Athenians can get supplies
of food into the city through the port of Piraeus as the Spartans
do not have warships to stop them!!
The year is 420 BC. The Spartan army has been sitting outside
Athens for the last 10 years except for one year when they had a
truce. Nicias of Athens has now arranged another truce,
supposed to last for 50 years. Everyone is allowed to go home.
Athens keeps its land, and Sparta gets to keep all the land it had
won in battle.
Not everybody welcomes this, especially Alcibiades who has just
been elected STRATEGOS by the Athenians. Alcibiades becomes
a real hero when he wins the Chariot racing at the Olympic
Games.
The year is 415 BC. The war between Athens and Sparta has
started again. Alcibiades has persuaded the Athenians to attack
Syracuse in Sicily with a massive fleet of triremes. The aim is to
cut off Sparta's supply of food and bring the enemy to its knees.
Alcibiades and Nicias have been made joint commanders of the
Athenian fleet. But all does not go according to plan. There is
treachery afoot.
“You passed your test just for this moment. You are now a full
citizen and a soldier of proud Sparta. I am honoured to have a son
in Syracuse with the Sicilian army.
The Sicilians are good fighters, listen to what they say and tell
them this.
Take the Athenian fleet by suprise ... Alcibiades says that they
will not have lookouts. Fire ships would be a good idea. The fleet
will be crowded in the harbour. 134 triremes cannot leave in a
hurry. When the wind is in the right direction send in the fire
ships and watch them burn the Athenians.
When the Athenians flee and try to cross the marshes attack
them every hour of the day. Drive them towards the river. They
will be thirsty. Wait for them in hiding until try to cross ... and
then .....
It will be a glorious victory my son.
Death to Athens!”
To my Father
I sit here on the top deck of Trireme 26, oar 17. I can see Sicily
on the horizon. The men say that Alcibiades has fled to Sparta.
Our plans have been discovered. I just can't believe that my
good friend, or who I thought was my good friend, would betray
us.
Demosthenes says that we attack Syracuse tomorrow. The city is
well defended and we will need all our courage and skill.
I do not feel ready for this fight. I should have taken notice of
my lessons and learned to play the lyre well, then I would not have
finished up here as a soldier on this stinking vessel.
If I should die tomorrow take care of the horses. Alcibiades will
have need of them should he ever return.
Your son
Poliphus
To Zeus
ibetyounevernewicouldwrite.
alldogsfromathensgotoschoolyouknow
ihavemissedyouverymuchyouarethebestfriendthatieverhad.
icannotgorunningthroughthefieldsdiggingforbonesasiamaveryancie
ntdog
infactwearebothveryancientdogs
wewillfindasunnycornerofthecourtyardandtalkabouttheolddays
wecanlistentotheoldmentellingstoriesofheraclesandperseusandjas
on
whiletheytickleourearsandfeedusthoselovelyblackolives
mayweneverbepartedagain
From Hermes