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

SPARTA'S RIPOSTE 81
who thought that the first treaty was inadequate and less in their own
interest than in the king's. s• In fact, Therimenes obtained some changes
that might be considered improvements. Gone was the offensive language
stating that the Greek cities of Asia "belonged" to the Great
King. Instead, the new relevant clause spoke in the traditional language
of nonaggression agreements familiar to the Greeks. This time there
was no clause requiring each side to assist the other in putting dowQ
rebellions by subordinate cities, a clause that required commitment
from Sparta, as in the defeat of Amorges, but could not conceivably
require action from Persia. Unlike the first agreement, the treaty of
Therimenes spoke openly of the Great King's obligation to pay the
Greek forces he called upon. This agreement established not merely
an alliance (symmachia), as had Chalcideus' agreement, but a treaty and
friendship (spondai kai philia). 5 ' In the earlier agreement the contracting
parties agreed to stop the Athenians from collecting tribute, whereas
in the new one the Spartans agreed not to collect any themselves. This
appears to accept a more respectable status for the Spartans. "In effect,
Spartan recognition of Persian control has been exchanged for an undertaking
that the Spartans will not attempt to succeed to the Athenian
position. " 52
From this point of view, the treaty of Therimenes might be seen as
a kindly gesture by Tissaphernes in which he gratified the wishes of
the Peloponnesians, perhaps to "show a willingness to oblige after his
curtailment of their pay. " 53 But the new agreement yielded nothing of
substance to the Spartans whereas it met Persian needs in the new
circumstances better than the old treaty. The insertion of more tactful
language in no way abandoned any of Persia's claims. The clause
requiring aid against rebellious allies was no longer needed after the
suppression of Amorges. The promise to pay Greek forces was limited
to the number the Great King summoned and said nothing about the
amount of pay. The most important change in the new agreement is
one of mood and attitude and is reflected in the first clause: "Whatever
50 8.]6.2.
51
8.]7· These last words are precisely the ones used by Andocides (3.29) in setting
forth the terms of the treaty that his uncle Epilycus negotiated with Darius in 424-f23.
As Andrewes puts it, "his 'friendship' with Athens ... is now transferred to Sparta"
(HCT V, Bo).
52
Lewis, Sparta and Persia, 93·
51
Busolt, GG Ill:2, 1443. He goes on to point out that Tissaphernes had other motives
as well.