The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

CHAP. XV.

Lysander made Sole Admiral of the Lacedemonian Fleet. He takes Cara∣mium. The Ruin of the Athenian Fleet at Aegos Potamos. Athens taken by Lysander. The End of the Peloponesian War.

THE Year next before being ended, Alexias was made Archon of Athens this Year; * 1.1 and at Rome three Military Tribunes again executed the Places of Consuls, Caius Julius, Publius Cornelius, and Caius Servilius. During their Magistracy, after the Com∣manders * 1.2 were put to Death, the Athenians made Philocles General of the Army; and * 1.3 delivering the Fleet to him, sent him away to Conon, Commissioning them with a * 1.4 Joynt-Power, in the Management of the War. When he came to Conon at Samos, he Man'd all the Ships to the number of an hundred seventy three. Twenty of these he left there, and with the rest he and Conon set Sail for the Hellespont.

Lysander, in the mean time, High-Admiral of the Lacedemonian Fleet, with 35 Sail, * 1.5 which he had got together from Peloponesus, and their Confederates, next adjoyning, * 1.6 pass'd over to Ephesus; and fitted out a Fleet, which he sent for from Chios. Then he goes to Cyrus, the Son of Darius, and receives from him a great Sum of Mony, for * 1.7 Payment of the Army. Cyrus being sent for by his Father into Persia, intrusts the Ma∣nagement of the Affairs of his Provinces to Lysander; and commands all the Tribute * 1.8 to be pay'd to him: who being now fully supply'd with all things necessary for the War, returns to Ephesus. At this Time some in Miletus, that favour'd an Oligarchy, by the help of the Lacedemonians, abolish'd the Democracy. And to that End, in the beginning of the Sedition, when the Dionysian Festivals were celebrated, forty that were the Greatest Enemies against their Faction, were surpriz'd in their Houses, and murther'd. Afterwards, observing their Opportunity, when the Forum was full of People, they cut off the Heads of 300 of the Richest of the Citizens. In the mean time, above 1000 of the most Considerable Persons of Quality, who were for the Democracy, afraid of the Present imminent Danger, fled to Pharnabasus, the Persian Lord-Lieutenant, who receiv'd them very courteously, and bestow'd upon every one a * 1.9 Stater of Gold, and order'd † 1.10 Clauda, a Castle of Claudia for their Residence.

Lysander, with a great Navy, making for ‖ 1.11 Thasus, a City of Caria, in League with the Athenians, takes it by Storm, and puts all the Men to the number of 800 to the Sword, and sold all the Women and Children for Slaves, and raz'd the City to the Ground. After this he sail'd to Attica, and many other Places; but did nothing me∣morable. Therefore we have nothing to write further concerning these Matters. The Sum of all is, having taken Lampsatus, he dismiss'd the Athenian Garrison there, and sent them Home; and after he had ‡ 1.12 plunder'd the City, restor'd it to the In∣habitants.

The Athenian Admirals, having Intelligence that the Lacedemonians had besieg'd Lampsacus with all their Forces, got together all their Fleet from every place, and with all speed made for Lampsacus, with an hundred and fourscore Sail; but hearing that it was taken, they Anchor'd at † 1.13 Aegos Potamos, and there lay. Not long after they weigh'd Anchor, and made out against the Enemy, and dar'd them every Day to a Battle; but when the Peloponesians would not stir, the Athenians began to consi∣der what was best to be done, for that they could not stay long there with the Fleet. Hereupon Alcibiades came to them, and assur'd them that Medocus and Seuthes, Kings of the Thracians, who were his special Friends, had offer'd him a great Army, if he would fight against the Lacedemonians; and therefore, if he might have some share in the Command, he ingag'd either to force the Lacedemonians to sight at Sea, or to fight them at Land, by an Army out of Thrace. This Alcibiades did to evidence how great his desire was to procure some Eminent Advantage to his Country, and by fresh Ser∣vice, to regain their former good Opinion of him. But the Athenian Commanders * 1.14 concluded, that if matters fell out ill, all the Blame would be laid upon them; and if well, Alcibiades would reap all the Honour of the Victory. Therefore they order'd him to withdraw, and not to come near the Army for the future.

The Enemy still avoiding a Fight, and Provision growing scarce in the Army Phi∣locles, * 1.15 who commanded that day, order'd the rest of the Officers of the Fleet, to ship their Men, and follow him, who having thirty Sail in readiness, forthwith loos'd out of the Harbour. Lysander having Intelligence of this, by some Deserters, makes out to Sea with his whole Navy, puts Philocles to Flight, and sails up to the rest of the Athenian Fleet. Hereupon the Athenians which lay there (in regard they had but few of their Men on Board) were all in a great Fear, and Consternation, through the unexpected Approach of the Enemy. Lysander therefore, understanding the Confusion and Dis∣order of his Enemy's Fleet, commanded Etonicus on Shoar with the Land-Army, who * 1.16 forthwith being now landed, judg'd it highly necessary to improve the present Op∣portunity; and therefore suddainly forces into part of the Enemy's Camp: And Ly∣sander himself coming up with all his Fleet, well Man'd and provided, hal'd as many of the Athenian Vessels as there were in the Harbour, with Grappling-Irons, to the Shoar. Upon this the Athenians were so amaz'd, and struck with such a suddain asto∣nishment, * 1.17 (not having time either to make out to Sea with their Ships, or to form themselves into a Body at Land) so that after a short Resistance, they turn'd their Backs. Hereupon some forsook their Ships, others fled out of the Camp; every one seeking where he could best preserve himself. Scarce ten of all the Commanders and Officers of the Fleet escap'd; amongst whom was Conon, who not daring to return to Athens, out of fear of the People, fled to Evagoras, Prince of Cyprus, his special góod Friend. Many of the Souldiers fled by Land to Sestos. Lysander possess'd himself of all the rest of the Fleet, and took Philocles, one of the Generals, prisoner, and carry'd him to Lampsacus, where he put him to death. Then he commanded Messengers to Lace∣demon * 1.18 to carry the News of the Victory; and order'd one of the Best of the Gallies to transport 'em, magnificently, adorning it with the Arms and Spoils taken from the Enemy.

Next, he march'd with his whole Army to Sestos, in pursuit of those that fled thi∣ther, took the City, and dismiss'd the Athenians upon Terms. From thence he sail'd with all speed to Samos, and forthwith prepares to besiege the City; but sent away Gylippus (he who so eminently assisted the Syracusians at Sea) to Sparta, with fifteen * 1.19 hundred Talents of Silver, besides the Spoils. The Mony was made up in little Bags, and to every Bag was fix'd a * 1.20 Seytale, upon which was written the Sum of Mony therein contain'd. Gylippus, being ignorant of what was done, unties the Bags, and takes out three hundred Talents; but his Theft being discover'd to the Ephori, by the Scytales, he fled, and thereupon was condem••'d to die. Clearchus, the Father of Gylippus, in former times, for his having receiv'd Mony of Pericles, not to invade Attica, likewise fled, and was adjudg'd to die, and liv'd all his Days a Banish'd Man among the Thurians in Italy. These two Men, who were otherwise Virtuous; yet by these sordid Acts, stain'd and blemish'd all the Worthy Actions of the rest of their Lives.

When the Athenians were fully satisfy'd that they were totally ruin'd, they deter∣min'd to strive no longer to be Masters at Sea; but now employ'd all their Care to re∣pair their Walls; and block't up the Haven, expecting nothing more certain than a Siege, which happen'd accordingly; for presently both Agis and Pausanias, the Lace∣demonian Generals, broke into Attica with great Forces, and incamp'd under the very Walls of Athens. And Lysander entred the Pyraeum, with above two hundred Sail. The Athenians, tho' they were press'd on every side with so many Mischiefs, yet stood out, and easily defended the City for some time. But the Peloponesians resolv'd in Council, in regard it would be very difficult to force the Place, to withdraw their Forces out of Attica, and by their Navy, to hinder all Provision from being brought into the City: Which being put in Execution, the Athenians were reduc'd into ex∣tream Want of all things, especially of Food; which was us'd to be imported to them by Sea.

Want pressing upon them every day more and more, the City was fill'd with the Dead. Upon which, those that surviv'd sent forth Ambassadors, and procur'd the Terms and Conditions following; viz. That the Long Fortifications of the Piraeum, * 1.21 and their Walls should be demolish'd: That they should never have above ten Long Ships: That they should leave all the Cities, and be Subject to the Lacedemonians. And * 1.22 thus ended the Peloponesian War, after it had continu'd Seven and twenty Years; a War of the longest Duration of any come to our Knowledge.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olymp. 93. 4.
• * 1.2

  An. M. 3567.
• * 1.3

  Ant. Chr. 403.
• * 1.4

  Philocles and Conon, joyntly Commission'd
• * 1.5

  P. 388.
• * 1.6

  Ant. Chr. 403.
• * 1.7

  A cruel Sedi∣tion at Miletus.
• * 1.8

  The Feast of Bachus. Ʋsher's Annal. 161.
• * 1.9

  Worth 15 Shill. English.
• † 1.10

  The Island mention'd Acts 27. 16. Ʋsh. An. 161.
• ‖ 1.11

  This is said to be mistaken for Caramium, a Bay in Caria; for that Tha∣sus is an Isle, and lies far off, and was taken some time af∣ter. Ʋsh. Ann. 160. Aemil. Probus in the Life of Lysand.
• ‡ 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Sub ha∣sta vendidit. Ant. Ch. 404.
• † 1.13

  In the Strait of the Helle∣spont.
• * 1.14

  Ant. Chr. 403.
• * 1.15

  The Surprize of the Athe∣nians at Ae∣gos Potamos Egos, or Pota∣mos.
• * 1.16

  P. 389.
• * 1.17

  Ant. Chr. 40••.
• * 1.18

  The total Rout of the Athenians at Aegos Pota∣mos.
• * 1.19

  Ant. Chr. 403.
• * 1.20

  A little Thong of Parchment, wrapt about a Staff, and then taken off; which would agree exactly with another Staff at Sparta when it was lapt about it; and so the Letters could be read.
• * 1.21

  Athens taken. Ant. Chr. 403.
• * 1.22

  The End of the Pelopone∣sian War.