Translated by Rx Warner. Written four hundred years before the birth of Christ, this detailed contemporary account of the long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta stands an excellent chance of fulfilling its author's ambitious claim. Thucydides himself (c. 460-400 BC) was an Athenian and achieved the rank of general in the earlier stages of the war. He applied thereafter a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling this factual record of a disastrous conflict.
Author description
THUCYDIDES was born probably about 460BC. He took a small part in the Peloponnesian War when it broke out in 431BC. 'The Peoloponnesian War' is the only surviving source for much of the period that he describes. Some of the chronological inconsistencies have been the cause of controversy among scholars for centuries. Rex Warner 1905-1986 was a classical scholar of Wadham College, Oxford. M. I. Finley was a lecturer in Classics and then Professor of Ancient History at Cambridge. He died in 1986
Table of contents
Translated by Rex Warner with an Introduction and Notes by M. I. Finley
Introduction Translator's Note
Book I Introduction The Dispute over Epidamnus The Dispute over Corcyra The Dispute over Potidaea The Debate at Sparta and Declaration of War The Pentecontaetia The Allied Congress at Sparta The Stories of Pausanias and Themistocles The Spartan Ultimatum and Pericles' Reply
Book II Outbreak of War The First Year of the War Pericles' Funeral Oration The Plague The Policy of Pericles The Fall of Potidaea The Siege of Plataea Victories of Phormio Thrace and Macedonia
Book III Revolt of Mytilene The Mytilenian Debate The End of Plataea Civil War in Corcyra Operations in Sicily and Greece End of Sixth Year of War
Book IV Athenian Success at Pylos Final Victory at Pylos Further Athenian Successes Peace in Sicily Fighting at Megara Brasidas in Thrace Athenian Defeat at Delium Brasidas Captures Amphipolis Armistice between Athens and Sparta End of Ninth Year of War
Book V Battle of Amphipolis Peace of Nicias Negotiations with Argos Alliance between Athens and Argos Campaigns in the Peloponnese Battle of Mantinea The Melian Dialogue
Book VI Sicilian Antiquities Launching of the Sicilian Expedition The Debate at Syracuse The Athenians Arrive in Sicily The Story of Harmodius and Aristogiton Recall of Alcibiades Athenian Victory before Syracuse The Debate at Camarina Alcibiades in Sparta More Athenian Successes at Syracuse
Book VII Gylippus Arrives in Syracuse Letter of Nicias Fortification of Decelea Athenian Defeat in the Great Harbour Athenian Defeat at Epipolae Syracusan Victory at Sea Destruction of the Athenian Expedition
Book VIII Alarm at Athens Beginning of Persian Intervention The Oligarchic Coup Athenian Victory at Cynossema Appendices Bibliography Maps Index
