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

THE RESTORATION 263
back from the straits, led a force of Athenians and allies, who happened
to be in the city, to the Lyceum outside the walls and put them in
lighting array. The sight of the organized Athenian force was enough
for Agis, who quickly fled. The Athenians pursued and were able to
pick off some of the enemy laggards. It was only a skirmish, but it
further raised Athenian spirits and considerably helped the prestige
of Thrasyllus. 65 At some time during the same summer, no doubt as
a result of the Athenian victory at Cyzicus, an anti-Spartan faction on
Chins gained control of the island and exiled its opponents." It was
probably during the same summer that the city of Neapolis on the
Thracian coast was attacked by the Thasians aided by Peloponnesian
forces. The Neapolitans resisted successfully, remaining loyal to Athens
and continuing to assist the Athenians in their attempts to regain
control of Thasos. 67 The Athenians will also have taken comfort in a
reverse suffered by the Spartans late in the winter of 410/9. Their
colony at Heraclea in Trachis was defeated in battle by the neighboring
peoples; 700 colonists died and with them the Spartan governor. 68
The Athenians derived the greatest material benefit from the Carthaginian
invasion of Sicily, launched in the summer of 409. Ironically,
they gained this advantage as a result of the disaster they had suffered
there in 413· The Athenian ally Segesta had been left at the mercy of
its enemies by the Athenian defeat. Fearing attack, the Segestans called
in Carthage as an ally. The resulting major invasion forced the Syracusans
to withdraw their fleet from eastern waters and the war against
Athens to use it in defense of the homeland. The departure of the
Syracusans deprived the Spartans of their ablest, most daring, and
most determined naval allies at a time when they could not easily be
spared. 69
The year 410/9, nevertheless, brought more losses than gains to the
Athenians. Even before the democratic restoration, probably late in
the winter of 411/10, Athens lost the prospect of gaining assistance
from its Corcyraean allies. The oligarchs there, who had been almost
65 Xenophon (1. 1. 34) says that the Athenians then voted Thrasyllus the forces he had
come to request, but we shaH see that the resources needed were not available until
the next year. It is possible that, in their enthusiasm, the Athenians voted the forces
in the summer of 410 but did not produce them until the following year. More likely,
Xenophon has misplaced the decision.
66
Diod. IJ.6s.J-4; Busolt, GG III:z, •552·
67
GHI, 89; Busolt, GG lll:z, 1552·
68 Xen. 1.z.18.
69
Diod. '3·43-44• 54-63; Busolt, GG III:z, •555·