91 pages • 3 hours read
ThucydidesHistory of the Peloponnesian War
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Book 6 Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Book 6 Summary
Summary: “Sicilian Antiquities” (Chapters 1-7)
Thucydides discusses Sicily’s history and Athens’ reasons for wanting to conquer it, which is due to treasure the Athenians have been told will be available to them. The same year the Athenians embark on the Sicilian Expedition (415), the Spartans attack Argive territory, and the Athenians intervene on Argos’ behalf.
Summary: “Launching of Sicilian Expedition, 415 BC” (Chapters 8-32)
Athens debatessending an expedition to conquer Sicily, in order to expand its territory and influence. Nicias opposes sending the expedition, but most are eager to launch it, Alcibiades in particular. Both Alcibiades and Nicias address the assembly, revealing their personal animosities in the process. After the expedition is approved, hermae(religious statues) throughout the city are disfigured, which the people read as a bad omen for the expedition. Alcibiades’ enemies accuse him of responsibility, but he is nevertheless approved to sail with the Athenian fleet to Sicily. Thucydides records the grandeur of and optimism at the expedition’s launch from Athens.
Summary: “The Debate at Syracuse, 415 BC” (Chapters 33-41)
Reports of Athens’ expedition reach the Syracusans. Hermocrates enumerates Athens’ challenges, comparing them to the Persian invasion of Greece. He urges calm and confidence but also preparation and courage. Athenagoras of Syracuse questions the accuracy of Hermocrates’ reports, along with his judgment. A third general warns the speakers to focus on the reports and turn their attention toward protecting themselves from the invaders.
Summary: “Athenians Arrive in Sicily, 415 BC” (Chapters 42-52)
The Athenians discover they were deceived about the amount of treasure available for them. Nicias wants to return to Athens, but Alcibiades prefers not to leave empty-handed. The Athenians win Catana by accident: The city invites Athens’ generals to speak but stipulate that the soldiers must remain outside the city’swalls. The soldiers enter anyway, through “a badly built gate in the walls” (442). Pro-Syracusans see the soldiers strolling through the marketplace and flee, thinking the city voted for an Athenian alliance.
Summary: “The Story of Harmodius and Aristogiton, 415 BC” (Chapters 53-59)
Thucydides tells the story of two lovers—Harmodius and Aristogiton—who, due to personal disputes and grievances, attempted murder and triggered in Hippias, the then-dictator of Athens, fear of political rebellion. Thereafter, Hippias ruled with greater force. Thucydides recounts these events to explain why Athenians fear tyrants and the overthrow of their democracy.
Summary: “Recall of Alcibiades, 415 BC” (Chapters 60-61)
Paranoid Athenians recall Alcibiades to face charges, but he escapes to the Peloponnese.
Summary: “Athenian Victory, 415 BC” (Chapters 62-72)
Thucydides recounts Athens’ plan for attacking Syracuse, lists the combined Athenian and allied combatants, reproduces Nicias’ speech to rouse the troops, and notes the reliance on soothsayers. Though the Syracusans demonstrate enthusiasm and daring in battle, the Athenians win then set up camp at Catana for the winter.
Summary: “The Debate at Camarina, 415-4 BC” (Chapters 73-88)
At a Syracusan assembly, Hermocrates encourages the people and advises them to send messengers to Sparta seeking assistance. Both Athens and Syracuse appeal to Camarina for an alliance. Hermocrates speaks first, urging Sicilians to stick together and invoking the Ionian-versus-Dorian rivalry. Next, the Athenian speaker reminds the assembly that his people have come by invitation. After both speeches, Camarina decides to remain neutral.
Summary: “Alcibiades in Sparta, 415-4 BC” (Chapters 89-93)
Athens appeals to Sicilian populations for alliances. Meanwhile, Alcibiades advises the Spartans how to defeat Athens. Syracusans appeal to Sparta, and they agree to help. A trireme arrives in Athens seeking additional troops and funds, and the assembly votes to provide them.
Summary: “More Athenian Successes at Syracuse, 415-4 BC” (Chapters 94-105)
That spring, Spartans and Argives engage in skirmishes. Athenian reinforcements arrive in Syracuse. Athens achieves success at Epipolae against Syracuse, who replaces its generals. Athens builds fortifications. Spartan general Gylippus, along with Corinthian ships, rush to Syracuse’s aid. At the same time, Sparta invades Argos, and Athens comes to their aid, thus breaking the treaty with Sparta.
Book 6 Analysis
Most of the events in Book 6 revolve around developments in Sicily during the sixteenth and seventeenth years of the war. After a hostile debate between Athenian leaders Alcibiades and Nicias, Athens ventures into Sicily, which appeals to Sparta for aid. This leads the already-fragile peace between Athens and Sparta to further disintegrate. Book 6 concludes at the end of the seventeenth year of the war, with the two powers outwardly resuming the war.In both Athens and Syracuse, leaders engage in personal hostilities that weaken overall leadership.
In Athens, Nicias and Alcibiades, who disagree about the wisdom of embarking on the Sicilian expedition, present their arguments to the Athenian assembly. In his speech, Nicias warns Athens to be wary of overeager generals—meaning Alcibiades—who push for war for their own personal gain. Thucydides identifies Alcibiades as one of the reasons for Athens’ downfall, but not necessarily because of his ardent support of the expedition. He had shown himself to be “beyond the normal” in a way that “frightened” people, so “they turned against him” (418-19). Though “his conduct of the war was excellent,” people did not trust him and turned to other, less capable leaders instead (419). Prior to the expedition’s launch, hermae—statues placed around the city and believed to have protective qualities—are defaced, which citizens interpret as a bad omen for the expedition. Alcibiades is accused, though Thucydides gives no indication whether Alcibiades is innocent or guilty. He is permitted to sail with his fleet, but the accusations remain active. Athens eventually recalls him to face charges, and he flees to Sparta and later befriends Tissaphernes. He provides with valuable advice for how to defeat Athens.
Syracuse has received news of the expedition’s launch, but not everyone believes it, and some who do feel that Athens does not pose a serious threat to Syracuse. After Hermocrates gives a speech to the assembly both warning Syracusans of the danger and encouraging them to be vigilant and stalwart, Athenagoras gives a response in which he implicitly accuses Hermocrates of trying to scare the people for his own gain. At the end of Athenagoras’ speech, a general stands up and refuses to allow any further speakers. He tells the assembly that speakers should refrain from making personal attacks on each other and focus instead on preparing for an Athenian invasion. Even if the reports are inaccurate, it will do no harm to be ready and to establish friendly communication with other Sicilian cities.
In contrasting these two internal disputes at Athens and Sicily, Thucydides suggests that Syracuse, which ultimately defeats Athens, has the stronger, more patriotic leadership. The Syracusan general shutting down the debate echoes Pericles’ refusal to call an assembly for fear of the outcome in Book 2 (which also shows how human events recur). Once again, according to Thucydides, power is not corrupt in itself and can be used to serve the interests of the state and its citizens. The problem is when unscrupulous politicians exploit power for their own gain and sacrifice the good of the city in the process.
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