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

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THE FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE
At first, it might seem that the Athenian envoys were straining at
a gnat after having swallowed a camel, for surely the Athenians could
not claim the right to prevent the Persian king from doing as he liked
in the waters off his own coasts. The fact is, however, that although
the Persians had lost control of their Aegean coast in the years since
the invasion of 48o/79, they retained control at least of Dascylium on
the northern shore of Asia Minor, facing the Hellespont, and of ports
on the southern shore as well. They might have moved ships into the
Aegean or the Hellespont, but since mid-century they had not done
so. The likeliest explanation is that they were prevented from doing
so by the Peace of Callias, made with the Athenians probably in 449·,.
Whether or not there had been a formal treaty, and the debate continues,
the Persians seem to have accepted the terms attributed to it de facto.
For four decades, no Persian fleet had threatened Athens' security,
but now the Great King wanted a change. Even a victory over the
Peloponnesians would not be worth making an agreement that would
allow the Persians to bring fleets into the Aegean and Hellespont,
where they could cut off Athenian supplies and attack Athens, and
whatever allies remained to it, at any time. The envoys could not agree
to such terms because no free Athenian assembly would accept them.
The Athenians, angry with Alcibiades, refused and broke off negtiations.
They believed that he had deceived them and was unwilling
to persuade Tissaphernes to propose acceptable terms. At least, Alcibiades
had succeeded in maintaining the illusion of his power over
Tissaphernes. 25
The frustrated and angry ambassadors returned to Samos toward
the end of March." The fiasco at the court of Tissaphernes put an end
to the negotiations with Alcibiades. At a discussion within the movement,
it was decided "to let Alcibiades alone, since he refused to join
them, and besides, he was not a suitable man to come into an oligarchy.""
Alcibiades' behavior at the negotiations had plainly convinced
most of the conspirators that he had been leading them on and
had no intention of bringing Tissaphernes and the Persians over to
their side. That belief probably gave vent to what must have been an
C, which reads imrrWv. For a dcfense of the reading accepted here and good discussions
of the issues, see HCT V, IJ4-f35, and Lewis, Sparta and Persia, 101, n. 74·
24 Kagan, Outbreak, 107.
25B.s6.s.
2
'13.63·3· For the date, see HCT V, 154·
I78.6J·4·