A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

11 8,6 NICIAS. NICIAS.
(Thuc. iii. 91; Diod. xii. 65.) *He was one of demand satisfaction with respect to the points on
the generals in B. c. 425, when the Spartans were which the Athenians felt themselves aggrieved.
shut up in Sphacteria. The amusing circumstances The Spartan government would not comply with
under which he commissioned his enemy, Cleon, their demands, and Nicias could only procure a
to reduce the island, have already been described fresh ratification of the existing treaties. On his
in the article CLEON [Vol. I. p. 797]. In the same return the alliance with Argos was resolved on.
year Nicias led an expedition into the territory of (Thuc. v. 43, 46.)
Corinth. He defeated the Corinthians in battle, The dissensions between Nicias and Alcibiades
but, apprehending the arrival of reinforcements for now greatly increased, and the ostracism of one or
the. enemy's troops, he re-embarked his forces. other began to be talked of. The demagogue
Two of the slain, however, having been left be- Hyperbolus strove to secure the banishment of
hind, whom the Athenians had not been able to one of them that he might have a better chance
find at the time, Nicias resigned the honours of of making head against the other. But Nicias
victory for the purpose of recovering them, and sent and Alcibiades, perceiving his designs, united their
a herald to ask for their restoration. He then influence against their common enemy, and the
proceeded to Crommyon, where he ravaged the ostracism fell on Hyperbolus.
land, and then directed his course to the territory In B. C. 415, the Athenians resolved on sending
of Epidanrus. Having carried a wall across the their great expedition to Sicily, on the pretext of
isthmus connecting AMethone with the main land, assisting the Segestaeans and Leontines. Nicias,
and left a garrison in the place, he returned home. Alcibiades, and Lamachus were appointed to the
(Thuc. iv. 42-45; Diod. xii. 65.) In B. c. 424, command. Nicias, who, besides that he disapwith two colleagues, he led an expedition to proved of the expedition altogether, was in feeble
the coasts of Laconia and captured the island of health, did all that he could to divert the Athenians
Cythera, a success gained with the greater facility, from this course. He succeeded in getting the
as he had previously had negotiations with some question put again to the vote; but even his reof the Cytherians. He stationed an Athenian presentations of the magnitude of the preparations
garrison in the island, and ravaged the coast of required did not produce the effect which he
Laconia for seven days. On his return he ravaged wished. On the contrary, the Athenians derived
the territory of Epidaurus in Laconia, and took from them grounds for still greater confidence; and
Thyrea, where the Spartans had settled the Aegi- Nicias and the other generals were empowered to
nletans after their expulsion from their own island. raise whatever forces they thought requisite. When
These Aeginetans having been conveyed to Athens the armament arrived at Rhegium, finding the
were put to death by the Athenians. (Thuc. iv. hopes which the Athenians had entertained with
54; Diod. 1. c.) In B. c. 423, Nicias and Nico- regard to the Segestaeans futile, in a conference of
stratus were sent with an army to Chalcidice to the generals Nicias proposed that they should call
check the movements of Brasidas. They obtained upon the Segestaeans to provide pay, if not for the
possession of Mende, and blockaded Scione; while whole armament, at least for the amount of the
thus engaged they entered into al agreement with succours which they had requested, and that, if they
Perdiccas. Having finished the circumvallation furnished these, the forces should stay till they had
of Scione, they returned home. (Thuc. iv. 130- brought the Selinuntines to terms, and then return
132.) home, after coasting the island to display the power
The death of Cleon removed out of the way of of Athens. But the intermediate plan of Alcibiades
Nicias the only rival whose power was at all was finally adopted. After the recall of Alcibiades
commensurate with his own, and he now exerted Nicias found no difficultyin securing the concurrence
all his influence to bring about a peace. He had of Lamachus in his plans.:From Catana, which
secured the gratitude of the Spartans by his had come over to the Athenians and been made
humane treatment of the prisoners taken at Sphac- their head-quarters, Nicias and Lamiachus proceeded
teria, so that he found no difficulty in assuming with all their forces towards Segesta. On their
the character of mediator between the belligerent way they captured Hyccara. Nicias went himself
powers. The negotiations ended in the peace of to Segesta, but could only obtain thirty talents.
B. C. 421, which was called the peace of Nicias on On their return they seem to have remained almost
account of the share which he had had in bringing inactive for some time, but in the autumn they preit about. (Thuc. v. 16, 19, 24, vii. 86.) In con- pared to attack Syracuse. By a skilful stratagem
sequence of the opposition of the Boeotians, Corin- the Athenians without molestation took possession
thians, and others, and the hostile disposition of of a station near the Olympieum, by the harbour
Argos, this peace was soon followed by a treaty of of Syracuse. A battle took place the next day, in
defensive alliance between Athens and Sparta. which the Syracusans were defeated. But, being
According to Theophrastus, Nicias, by bribing in want of cavalry and money, the Athenians
the Spartan commissioners, contrived that Sparta sailed away, and for the first part of the winter
should take the oaths first. Grounds for dis- tool up their station at Naxos. They were unsatisfaction, however, speedily arose between successful in their endeavours to induce Camarina
the two states. The jealousy felt by the Athe- to join them, but secured the assistance of several
nians was industriously increased by Alcibiades, of the Sicel tribes. Even some Etruscan cities
at whose suggestion an embassy came from Argos promised aid, and envoys were sent to Carthage.
in B. C. 420, to propose an alliance. The Spartan From Naxos Nicias removed to Catana. Adenvoys who came to oppose it were entrapped by ditional supplies were sent from Athens, and arrived
Alcibiades into exhibiting an appearance of double at Catana in the spring (B. C. 414). Nicias now
dealing, and it required all the influence of Nicias made preparations for seizing Epipolae, in which he
to prevent the Athenians from at once concluding was successful; and the circumnvallation of Syracuse
an alliance with Argos. He induced them to send was immediately commenced. The work proceeded
him at the head of an embassy to Sparta to rapidly, and all attempts of the Syracusans to stop