Unit 08
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University of Massachusetts, Amherst *
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History
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Feb 20, 2024
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Read the attached PDF and describe in some detail the Athenian decision to send an expeditionary force to Sicily. What were the origins of this expedition? What arguments did Alcibiades use to convince the Athenians to approve the attack of Sicily?
As per Thucydides, the Athenian expedition to Sicily holds great significance. This essay will explore the origins of this expedition and understand how Alcibiades convinced the Athenians to approve the attack on Sicily.
The Athenian expedition to Sicily originated from a conflict between the city-states of Egesta and Selinus.
Selinus sought the help of the powerful city-state Syracuse while Egesta sent a diplomatic mission to Athens asking for help. The Athenians, driven by their desire to expand their influence, agreed to help the Egestaians. Their true motive was to conquer the land of Sicily which they believed had significant wealth. To further motivate the Athenians’ decision, Egestaians tricked the Athenian fact-finding mission into believing that Egesta had enough military and monetary resources to help their expedition. Thucydides writes, “The people of Egesta pulled off the following trick at the time that the first representatives of the Athenians came to look into the question of the money. They took them to the shrine of Aphrodite… filled the Athenians from the triremes with awe, and when they returned to Athens
these men spread reports of the great wealth that they had seen…” (6.46.3–4) Alcibiades was a prominent Athenian politician and had debated his fellow politician Nicias in an assembly for the approval of the expedition. Nicias felt they should not undertake war unrelated to Athens at the request of another city-state (6.9.1). However, Alcibiades’ persuasive arguments were able to influence public opinion in favor of the expedition. He argued that the expedition would help expand the Athenian empire, humble the Peloponnesians, and gain power over all of Greece (6.18.4). He tactically appealed to the public, emphasizing the benefits of an aggressive foreign policy (6.18.3). He fueled a sense of patriotism in the public by urging them to use the capabilities of the older and younger generations to defend Athens through this expedition (6.17.1).
In conclusion, the Athenian expedition to Sicily originated due to the deception of the Egestaians and was supported by Athenians due to Alcibiades’ persuasive arguments. Thucydides' accounts provide valuable insights into these events, highlighting how the expedition had disastrous consequences for Athens.
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