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172 ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. xn.Peloponnesians,.they showed still less adroitness, and wouldhave been ruined, had not the division of the Athenianscovered their retreat. 1The naval tactics which were now known to the Greeks,consisted chieflyin sailing round, and sailing through theenemy's line. 2 The objectof the first was, to extend theline beyond the opposite wings of the second, to break;through the hostile line. To prevent this, the other fleetwas drawn up in two lines, both with intervals, so that thedivisions of the second line could pass through the intervalsin the first, and thus assist them, when assistance was needed.This order was particularly understood by the Athenians, whoalso adopted another method of attack, not with the prow, butobliquely from the side so that the oars of the;enemy's shipwere broken, and the ships thus made unmanageable. Inthose matters, the Athenians were superior not only to theSpartans, but even to the Syracusans. 3The two last years of the Peloponnesian war were parbut for a knowticularly remarkable for naval encounters ;ledge of tactics, the engagement between the Spartans underCallicratidas, and the Athenians, near Lesbos, alone deservesnotice ;for it gives us an example of the management of asquadron in a double row. The Athenian fleet was drawnup in two lines, both on the right and the left wing. Eachwing consisted of two divisions, each division of fifteen ships;and was supported by equal divisions in the second line ;the centre was composed of one line. This order, saysXenophon, 4 was chosen, that the fleet might not be brokenthrough. The Spartan fleet, on the contrary, formed butone line; preparedfor sailinground or breaking throughthe enemy* The battle was obstinate ; it was long beforethe Athenians gainedthe victory, as Callicratidas fell. Hissteersman, before the battle, had advised him to retreat, onaccount of the greatly superior force of the Athenians," Were I to fall, Sparta could exist as well," was his answer.The naval tactics of the ancients were further improvedin the wars. between the Romans and Carthaginians, andunder the Ptolemies. In forming an opinion respecting1Thucyd. iii. 277, 78.n>pi7rAai/ and ^tK7rXav. Thucyd. vii. 36.Xenoph. H. Gr. i Op. p. 446. 3 See the description of thefight in Thucyd. 1. c. 4Xenoph. Op. p. 446.