We have seen how much the credit of Sparta had been injured in the eyes
of Greece by the capture of her chosen warriors at Pylos, and by her
subsequent behaviour during the negotiations which led to the peace of
Nicias. Spartan valour was seen to be not above reproach, and the
Peloponnesian allies had still better reason to complain of the
hollowness of Spartan faith. The high reverence which had long been
attached to the name of Sparta had given place to something like
contempt, and the Eleans, who had an old grudge against her, took
advantage of this feeling to exclude her citizens from taking public
part in the Olympic festival, which was celebrated with great pomp and
splendour in the second year of the peace. And the degradation of the
proud Dorian city seemed to be complete, when a Spartan named Lichas,
who had entered for the chariot-race under another name, was driven
with blows from the racecourse. So deep was the abasement to which the
great name of Sparta had now sunk.
The Spartans saw that a vigorous effort must be made, if they would
recover their lost ascendancy; and two years later the opportunity
occurred for which they were waiting. On the northern side of the
Argolic peninsula lies the ancient city of Epidaurus, famous for its
rich vineyards, and its great temple of Asclepius, [Footnote:
Aesculapius.] the god of healing. For some time past, the Epidaurians,
who were in alliance with Sparta, had been involved in a dispute,
arising out of some obscure question of ritual, with Argos; and they
were now in sore straits, being hard pressed by the whole weight of the
Argive power, backed by the new confederacy. This was the pretext
needed by the Spartans, and mustering their whole forces they marched,
under the command of their king Agis, against Argos.
The Argives had received notice of the advance of Agis, and they
immediately marched out to meet him, wishing to engage the Spartans
before they had united with their allies from Corinth, Boeotia, and
elsewhere, who were assembling in great force at Phlius. The two armies
confronted each other for a moment at Methydrium, in Arcadia; but Agis
succeeded in avoiding an engagement, and breaking up his camp under
cover of darkness pushed on to Phlius. Thereupon the Argives, who were
accompanied by their allies from Mantinea and Elis, returned in haste
to Argos, and then, marching northwards, took up their position at
Nemea, which commanded the ordinary route from Phlius to the Argive
territory. But they were again outmanoeuvred by the skilful
dispositions of Agis. Avoiding the road by Nemea, which led through a
narrow and dangerous pass, he led his Spartans over the mountains and
descended into the plain which surrounds the city of Argos. One
contingent of his allies had orders to proceed in the same direction by
another mountain-path, while the Boeotians, who numbered no less than
ten thousand infantry, and five hundred cavalry, were directed to take
the high road by Nemea; for Agis expected that by threatening the
cultivated lands around Argos he would draw the Argives from their
position, and bring them down in haste to the defence of their estates.
The plan was completely successful. As soon as the Argives learnt that
Agis was ravaging their fields they set out with all speed towards
Argos, and finding Agis engaged in the work of pillage, they drew up
their forces, and offered battle. Their situation was in the highest
degree perilous. In front of them, cutting them off from the city of
Argos, was the flower of the Spartan army, reinforced by the troops of
Tegea and Arcadia; on their right flank the mountain slopes swarmed
with the infantry of Corinth and Phlius; and in the rear their retreat
was cut off by the thronging masses of Boeotians, who were now pouring
along the road from Nemea. They were fairly cut off, and seemed
delivered over to destruction; nevertheless, such was the presumptuous
confidence which possessed them, that they awaited eagerly the signal
for battle, crying out that they had caught the Spartans in a trap.
Fortunately for them there were two men among their leaders who took a
wiser view of the position; one of these was Alciphron, an official who
represented the interests of Sparta at Argos, [Footnote: The Greek word
is _Proxenos_,--a sort of consul.] and the other was Thrasyllus, one of
the five generals. These two men entered into a parley with Agis, and
by promising to satisfy the demands of Sparta induced him to grant a
truce. Agis then drew off his forces, and returned by way of Nemea to
Sparta; and the allies, much against their will, were compelled to
follow his example. Loud were the murmurs among the confederates, and
even among the Spartan soldiers, against Agis, who had thrown away this
golden opportunity of humbling the pride of Argos, and brought
dishonour on one of the finest armies that had ever been led into the
field by a Grecian general. Strange to say, the Argives were not less
indignant against the two men who had saved them from overwhelming
disaster; and Thrasyllus, the general, narrowly escaped being stoned to
death.