Book II - Wilbourhall.org

246 0OYKYAIAOY SYrrPA*H2 B.03-84. There, on the suggestion of the Megarians, theyfdanned a night attack on the Piraeus. But their courageailed them at the last minute, so they plundered Salamisinstead. The Athenians were at first greatly alarmed, but afleet was sent out at dawn, and the Peloponnesians retired inhaste to Nisaea. Then the Piraeus was made a ' closed harbour'as a precaution against surprises.95-101. Expedition of Sitalces against Perdiccas of Macedonand the Chalcidians. Perdiccas had deceived him, andhe had made a promise to Athens that he would help torestore order in Chalcidice. The Athenians had promised tosend a large force to help him ; but, feeling doubts about hissincerity, only sent commissioners bearing presents. However,Sitalces crossed the Balkans with a vast, but verymiscellaneous force. Thucydides gives an account of thekingdom, revenues, and empire of the Odrysae, and of therise of the Macedonian monarchy. The forces of Perdiccaswere quite insufficient to withstand Sitalces, at whose approacheven the Greeks trembled as far south as Thermopylae, andmade ready their arms. But the Athenian force did notcome, and provisions ran short: so, after ravaging Chalcidice,Bottice, and Macedonia, he acceded to his nephew's suggestionthat he should depart. His nephew Seuthes obtained thesister of Perdiccas in marriage as a return for his mediation.102-103. When the Peloponnesian fleet had departed,Phormio went to Acarnania and strengthened the position ofAthens there. He would have attacked Oeniadae, but wasprevented by the swollen state of the Achelous which renderedthe town unapproachable. On the sea side the Echinadeswere a protection to the town. Thucydides illustrates fromthe legend of Alcmaeon the rapid formation of these islandsby the alluvial deposits of the Achelous. Early in 428 B.C.Phormio returned to Athens with just satisfaction.