I
The Peloponnesian War may be conveniently divided into four chief
periods. The first of these periods lasted for ten years, down to the
peace of Nicias. The second extends from the peace of Nicias to the
massacre of Melos. In the third, the scene of war was shifted from
Greece to Sicily, and it was there that the Athenian power really
received its death-blow. The fourth and final period begins after the
overthrow of the Athenians at Syracuse, and ends, nine years
afterwards, with their final defeat at Aegospotami, and the downfall of
the Athenian empire.
It is the third of these periods which will occupy our attention for
the remainder of the present volume, and as the momentous events which
we have to relate occurred entirely in Sicily, it is necessary to say
something of the previous history of that great island. The connexion
of the Greeks with Sicily begins in the latter half of the eighth
century before Christ, when settlers from Chalcis in Euboea founded the
city of Naxos on the north-eastern coast, under the shadow of Aetna.
Naxos in its turn sent out colonists, who built the cities of Leontini
and Catana, the former on an inland site, commanding the great plain
which extends southwards from Aetna, the latter on the coast, in a line
with the centre of the same plain. These were Ionic colonies, and we
may close the list with the name of Messene [Footnote: Originally
called Zancle.] founded twenty years later on the Sicilian side of the
strait which bears its name.
We have now to enumerate the principal Dorian cities. First among these
in time, and by far the first in importance, was Syracuse, founded from
Corinth a year after the settlement of Naxos. Between Syracuse and the
mother-city there was a close and intimate tie of friendship, which
remained unbroken throughout the course of Greek history. The original
city was built on the island of Ortygia, but a new town afterwards
arose on the low-lying coast of the mainland, and spread northwards
till it covered the eastern part of the neighbouring heights. Ortygia
was then converted into a peninsula by the construction of a causeway,
connecting the new city with the old. Under the despotism of Gelo, who
made himself master of the city in the early part of the fifth century,
[Footnote: 485 B.C.] Syracuse rose to great power and splendour, and
her territory extended over a great part of eastern Sicily. Gelo gained
immortal renown by defeating a mighty host of Carthaginians, who
invaded Sicily at the time when the confederate cities of old Greece
were fighting for their existence against Xerxes and his great armada.
After his death the power passed to his brother Hiero, whose victories
in the Olympian and Pythian Games are commemorated in the Odes of
Pindar. Hiero reigned for twelve years, and was succeeded by his
brother Thrasybulus; but a year later the despotism was overthrown, and
the government returned to a democracy.
A bare mention must suffice for Gela, founded from Rhodes and Crete
nearly half a century after Syracuse, and the more famous Agrigentum, a
colony from Gela, and next to Syracuse the greatest city in Sicily.
These played no part in the struggle with Athens; but Selinus and
Camarina, the two remaining Dorian cities of southern Sicily, will
occupy an important place in the following narrative.
Thus the whole coast districts on southern and eastern Sicily were held
by opulent and flourishing Greek cities. On the north was Himera, an
Ionic colony, and the scene of Gelo's great victory over Carthage;
while the western and north-western district was divided between the
Phoenicians and the Elymi, a people of unknown origin, whose chief
seats were at Eryx and Egesta. The inland parts were held, in the west,
by the Sicans, who are believed to have come from Spain, and in the
east by the Sicels, a people of Latin race, who gave their name to the
island.