History of the Peloponnesian War · Chapter
XXII explained
Demosthenes arrives with reinforcements at Syracuse, but his night attack on Epipolae fails disastrously.
What happens
Demosthenes arrives with reinforcements at Syracuse, but his night attack on Epipolae fails disastrously. The Athenian army is demoralized, and a debate ensues between Demosthenes, who advocates immediate retreat, and Nicias, who insists on staying due to financial hopes and fear of Athenian political backlash. The chapter ends with the Athenians in a precarious position, unable to decide on a course of action.
Themes in this chapter
Leadership and Strategy
The chapter highlights the contrasting strategic visions of Nicias and Demosthenes, and the consequences of indecision in military command.
Fate and Human Agency
The Athenians' inability to act decisively after the failed attack underscores the tension between human planning and the unfolding of events beyond their control.
War and Its Consequences
The physical and moral deterioration of the Athenian army, disease, and the squandering of resources illustrate the devastating toll of prolonged war.
Characters to notice
- Nicias
Argues against retreat, citing financial strain on Syracuse and fear of Athenian political judgment; insists on continuing the siege despite the army's poor state.
- Demosthenes
Leads the night attack on Epipolae, which fails; strongly advocates for immediate withdrawal from Syracuse to preserve the army and resources.
- Eurymedon
Arrives with Demosthenes and agrees with his proposal to retreat; supports the plan to move to Thapsus or Catana.
- Gylippus
Commands the Syracusan and allied forces; leads the counterattack during the night battle on Epipolae and later goes to Sicily to gather reinforcements.
Key passages
“Demosthenes, however, would not hear for a moment of continuing the siege, but said that if they could not lead off the army without a decree from Athens, and if they were obliged to stay on, they ought to remove to Thapsus or Catana; where their land forces would have a wide extent of country to overrun, and could live by plundering the enemy, and would thus do them damage; while the fleet would have the open sea to fight in, that is to say, instead of a narrow space which was all in the enemy’s favour, a wide sea-room where their science would be of use, and where they could retreat or advance without being confined or circumscribed either when they put out or put in.”
Demosthenes flatly rejected continuing the siege. He argued that if they couldn't leave without Athens' permission, they should move to Thapsus or Catana, where the army could forage and raid, and the fleet could fight in open water instead of the confined harbor that favored the Syracusans.
Demosthenes proposes a tactical relocation to regain the advantage.
“For himself, therefore, who knew the Athenian temper, sooner than perish under a dishonourable charge and by an unjust sentence at the hands of the Athenians, he would rather take his chance and die, if die he must, a soldier’s death at the hand of the enemy.”
Nicias, knowing the Athenian people's tendency to blame their generals, declared he would rather die in battle than face an unfair trial and execution back home.
Nicias's fear of political repercussions overrides strategic judgment.