The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

6. The Coup
While Phrynichus, Astyochus, and Alcibiades were exchanging betrayals
in Samos and Magnesia, the Athenian antidemocratic movement
went forward. The ambassadors from the movement at Samos,
led by Peisander, arrived in Athens late in December and probably
stayed there during the period in which the correspondence passed
between Samos and Magnesia and for some time afterwards. 1 It is
important to remember that the members of the embassy knew nothing
of the events that raised new suspicions about Alcibiades and alienated
the movement from him. Peisander and his colleagues would make
their argument keeping Alcibiades and his promises at the center. This
meant that moderates like Thrasybulus were still firmly attached to
the· group and would use their considerable influence to gain support
for the proposed changes. It also meant that the ttue oligarchs involved
would need to temper their language to suit those moderates.
At some time after their arrival, the ambassadors addressed the
Athenian assembly.' The heart of their presentation was that only
with Persian help could Athens be saved and prevail over the Peloponnesians,
and this could be achieved only by the rerum of Alcibiades
and an alteration of the constitution. IfThucydides' language is precise,
it is worth noting that the terms used to describe the change in mode
'For a goOO discussion of the chronology, see HCT V, 124, IJI, I86-187.
2
Thucydides' language suggests that the assembly took place soon after Peisander's
arrival in Athens, although it is not incompatible with a longer interval. Since he
arrived in Athens probably late in December and seems to have left it not much earlier
than late February of 411, it seems better to assume a slower pace of activity. See HCT
V, IJI.
IJI