-;;.-,> 3V.*?v
IAI {RARY
rHH
University of California.
gift ok
Mrs. SARAH P. WALSWORTH.
Received October, 18Q4.
Accessions No . Sip % *J (& : Class No.
I'HE
HISTORY OF GREECE
BY
THOMAS ^tlGffTLEY.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CONTEMPORARY HISTORY.
BY
JOSHUA TOULM1N SMITH,
AUTHOR OF " COMPARATIVE VIEW OF ANCIENT HISTORY, AND
EXPLANATION OF CHRONOLOGICAL ERAS."
V Of THB
. . . ? . -
BOSTON:
HILL1ARD, GRAY, AND COMPANY
1839.
T>V
^
/nrri
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839,
By Hilliard, Gray, and Company,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
STEREOTYPED AT THE
BOSTON TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
<v
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
The present work is intended to supply the want of
a good History of Greece for schools. It claims, how-
ever, to be regarded as somewhat more than a mere
school-book. The idea of a popular epitome, which I
have sought to realize in it, is that, while by clear,
animated, and graphic narrative it should interest the
young, the views of society and of political measures
and characters should be such as not to be disdained
even by the statesman.
In a country like this, where almost every one is
called upon to take a part in politics, no species of
knowledge is more indispensable than history. Under
the guidance of sound sense, without which knowledge
is of little avail, it is our surest protection against wild
political theory, and enables us to think and act with
confidence and security in public emergencies. Few,
therefore, will deny that it is of importance that correct
ideas on this subject should be instilled into the minds
of youth, and that histories intended for their use should
be something better than mere compilations. But the
young are not alone to be considered ; there is a very
numerous class of grown persons who feel the want of
sound historic knowledge, but have not time for reading
voluminous works, and have a just contempt for the
common school histories. To such also the present
IV
volume is offered. It has been written directly from
the best original authorities ; and the works of the ablest
modern writers on Grecian history and antiquities have
been diligently studied and used. It may suffice to
mention the names of Miiller, Heeren, Bockh, and
Wachsmuth among the Germans, and of Arnold and
Clinton among ourselves, to inspire confidence. The
limits to which I deemed it prudent to confine myself
have precluded me from making references ; but when-
ever I coincide with these writers in sentiment or ex-
pression, it will of course be inferred that I am their
debtor.
It may be that, in reading the following pages, some
persons will feel disappointed at not meeting " Plutarch's
men," as they are called. The reason they do not is,
that I am a historian, not a panegyrist ; that the Greeks
were no demigods, but men like ourselves, with all our
vices and infirmities; and that history, to be useful,
should be true.
There may be others who think that Grecian history,
because it is ancient, can be of little use at the present
day. But, as Dr. Arnold finely observes, history knows
not this distinction of ancient and modern with respect
to utility. Man has always been the same, and no por-
tion of his story can be quite devoid of use and interest.
That of ancient Greece and Rome is even far more
useful than the greater part of modern history ; for they
were free, and theirs is that of the people, not of the
rulers. The most important and instructive history
to us is that of England ; next, that of Greece and
Rome ; and then I would say, not that of the great
kingdoms and empires, but of the Italian republics of
the Middle Ages. Why is Oriental history, in general,
AUTHOR S PREFACE.
so barren of instruction? Simply, because it is the
history of Khalifs, Shahs, and Sultans, not of the people.
London, Jan, 1, 1835.
The improvements (as I trust they will be considered)
made in this Second Edition are as follows. Some
errors have been corrected, and some omissions sup-
plied; the authorities are given as in the History of
Rome ; plans of Athens and Syracuse are added ;
the Greek orthography has been employed instead of
the Latin, ei having replaced e or i, on the final urn,
and os in many cases the final us ; the final w is
marked 6, as in Solon. Finally, the plan adopted in
the History of Rome, of marking the penultimate when
long otherwise than by a diphthong or position, (cl is
not such ; we say Pericles,) has been extended to this
work also.
As Mr. Thirlwall's History of Greece (a part of
which has been published) will doubtless, from its evident
superiority, take the place of those of Gillies and Mit-
ford, it has given me much pleasure to observe how little
difference there is between his views and mine, even in
the early parts, where so much is left to conjecture.
I therefore hope that the present summary will be
regarded as a good introduction to his more compre-
hensive history.
T. K.
London, Sept. 3, 1836.
PREFACE
TO THE AMERICAN EDITION
The compilations of Goldsmith and others, on the subject of
Grecian History, have been so long before the public, and the
imperfections and incorrectness of all of them have been so long
felt, that the publishers need no apology for offering the follow-
ing recent and excellent production of the English press to
the American public. The work has already been received in
Britain with the highest approbation.
It will be seen by the Author's Preface, that, while this work
" is intended to supply the want of a good History of Greece
for schools," it claims, in some respects, to take a higher stand
than a mere school-book ; that is, while it gives a scrupulously
accurate and concise account of the events which transpired in
the country where civilization and the arts first attained to their
highest point, whence, indeed, much has been derived to our
own time, it is yet presented in such a style and form of connected
and interesting narrative, that the most fastidious scholar may
derive pleasure and instruction from its perusal. The inspection
of the following pages proves most satisfactorily that this claim
is just. The publishers have, therefore, prepared, at the same time
with an edition for the use of schools, another, more suitable for
the library.
To this edition a Chronological Table of Contemporary Events
in other countries has been added. It has been compiled with
careful accuracy, and, it is hoped, will render the work still more
valuable and useful.
The publishers have prepared, in the same style, the "History
of Rome," by the same author an equally valuable work, and
written on the same plan. They have also in the press his
"History of England."
They feel assured that the whole series will prove a very
valuable addition to the educational, as well as the polite litera-
ture of this country.
CONTENTS
PART I.
ARISTOCRATIC PERIOD.
CHAPTER I. pagb
Description of Greece 1
CHAPTER II.
Original State of Greece. The Pelasgians. The Heroic Age. 8
CHAPTER III.
The Dorian Migration, or Return of the Heracleids 17
CHAPTER IV.
The Colonies 25
CHAPTER V.
The Spartan Constitution. Lycurgus 30
CHAPTER VI.
The Messenian Wars 42
CHAPTER VII.
Early State of Attica. Crissaean War. Legislation of Solon . . 55
CHAPTER VIII.
Time of the Tyrants. Peisistratus and his Sons. Legislation
of Cleisthenes. War of Sparta and Argos 65
CHAPTER IX.
Kingdom of Lydia. Persia. Invasion of Scythia by Darius.
Revolt of the Asiatic Greeks 78
CHAPTER X.
Invasion of Greece. Battle of Marathon. Aristeides and
Themistocles 90
Vlll CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI. PAGE .
March of Xerxes. Preparations of the Greeks. Battle of
Thermopylae. Battle of the Artemision. Attempt on
Delphi 99
CHAPTER XII.
Burning of Athens. Battle of Salamis. Flight of Xerxes.
Battle of Plataea. Battle of Mycale 117
CHAPTER XIII.
Rebuilding of Athens. Treason and Death of Pausanias.
Flight of Themistocles. Assessment of Aristeides. His
Death. Victory of Cimon at the Eurymedon 135
CHAPTER XIV.
Constitutions of Thessaly, Boeotia, and other Parts of Greece.
Military and Naval Affairs. Literature 146
PART II.
DEMOCRATIC PERIOD.
CHAPTER I.
State of Greece. Revolt of the Messenians. War of Athens
with jEgina and Corinth. Battles of Tanagra and CEnophyta.
Athenian Expedition to Egypt. Battle of Coroneia.
Conquest of Samos. Power of the Athenians. Character
of Pericles 153
CHAPTER II.
War between the Corinthians and Corcyraeans. Siege of Pot-
idsea. Origin of the Peloponnesian War 166
CHAPTER III.
Commencement of the Peloponnesian War. Invasion of Attica.
Plague at Athens. Siege of Platrea. Naval Action in the
Corinthian Gulf. Death of Pericles. Revolt of Mytilcne.
Escape of the Platseans 174
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV. PAGE ,
Surrender of Mytilene and Platsea. Massacre in Corcyra.
Transactions in Western Greece. Occupation of Pylos.
Capture of the Spartans 192
CHAPTER V.
Second Massacre at Corcyra. Attempt on Megara. Battle
of Delion. Brasidas in Thrace. Battle of Amphipolis, and
Death of Brasidas and Cleon. Peace of Nicias 206
CHAPTER VI.
Politics of Greece. War in Peloponnesus. Battle or Man-
tineia. Revolution at Argos. Barbarity of the Athenians
at Melos 216
CHAPTER VII.
AiFairs of Sicily. Athenian Expedition to Sicily. Prosecu-
tion of Alcibiades for Impiety. Description of Syracuse.
Battle at Syracuse. Preparations for the War. Siege of
Syracuse 224
CHAPTER VIII.
Distress at Athens. Voyage of Demosthenes. Sea-fight in
the Great Harbor. Attack on Epipolae. Retreat proposed.
Defeat of the Athenian Fleet. Flight of the Athenian Army.
Its Surrender 246
CHAPTER IX.
Revolt of the Allies. War on the Coast of Asia. Intrigues
of Alcibiades. Revolution at Athens 257
CHAPTER X.
Affairs on the Coast of Asia. Return of Alcibiades. Lysan-
der. Callicratidas. Battle of Arginusae. Condemnation
of the Generals. Battle of iEgospotami. Surrender of
Athens. Death of Alcibiades 277
CHAPTER XI.
The Thirty Tyrants. Death of Theramenes. Return of the
Exiles. End of the Tyranny 296
CHAPTER XII.
Retreat of the Ten Thousand. Dercyllidas in Asia. Conspir-
B
X CONTENTS.
PAGX.
acy of Cinadon. Agesilaus in Asia. Corinthian or First
Boeotian War. Victories of Conon. Exploit of Iphicrates.
Progress of the War. Peace of Antalcidas 305
CHAPTER XIII.
Reduction of Mantineia. Seizure of the Cadraeia. Olynthian
War. Reduction of Phlius. Recovery of the Cadmeia.
Second Boeotian War. Battle of Leuctra 327
CHAPTER XIV.
Spartan Equanimity. Jason of Pherse. Second Boeotian War
continued. Return of the Messenians. Affairs of Pelopon-
nesus. Battle of Mantineia 345
CHAPTER XV.
General Peace. Last Days of Agesilaus. Death of Alexander
of Pherse. Military Affairs. Literature 363
PART III.
MONARCHIC PERIOD.
CHAPTER I.
Kingdom of Macedonia. Philip of Macedonia. Confederate
War. Phocian or Sacred War. Progress of Philip. Sa-
cred War. War in Peloponnesus. Olynthian War 369
CHAPTER II.
Peace between Philip and the Athenians. End of the Sacred
War. Athenian Statesmen. Siege of Perinthus and Byzan-
tium. Amphissian, or Third Sacred War. Battle of Chaero-
neia. Death of Philip 389
CHAPTER III.
Alexander the Great 406
CHAPTER IV.
War in Greece. Demosthenes and ^schines. Harpalus at
CONTENTS. XI
PAGE.
Athens. Lamian War. Death of Demosthenes ; his
Character. Death of Demades 415
CHAPTER V.
Polysperchon and Cassander. Death of Phocion. Siege of
Megalopolis. Contests in Greece. Demetrius Poliorc6tes
in Greece and in Asia. Irruption of the Gauls. Pyrrhus in
Peloponnesus ; his Death. iEtolian and Achaean Leagues.
Aratus 426
CHAPTER VI.
King Agis of Sparta. Cleomenes of Sparta. Cleomenian
War. Battle of Sellasia. Death of Cleomenes 443
CHAPTER VII.
The JEtolians in Peloponnesus. Synod at Corinth. Confeder-
ate War. Death and Character of Aratus 454
CHAPTER VIII.
War between Philip and the iEtolians. War between Philip
and the Romans. Battle of Cynoscephalaa. Peace between
Philip and Rome. Independence proclaimed to Greece 467
CHAPTER IX.
War against Nabis. Antiochus the Great in Greece. War
between Sparta and the League. Death of Philopoemon.
Last Efforts of the Greeks. Destruction of Corinth. Re-
duction of Greece to a Province. Conclusion 476
Chronological Table of Contemporary History 489
PRELIMINARY NOTICES.
Grecian Chronology.
The ancient Greeks reckoned by periods of four years, named
Olympiads, from the Olympic Games, which were celebrated at the
commencement of each period. They were counted from the first
new moon after the summer solstice : the first Olympiad began July
21-22, 776 B. C.
Dates in Olympiads are thus expressed : ex. gr. Ol. 42, 3, that is,
the 3d year of the 42d Olympiad.
To reduce Olympiads to years before Christ : subduct 1 from tho
Olympiad and 1 from the odd years, then multiply the Olympiad
by 4, and add the odd years ; subtract the product from 776, and
the remainder will be the number sought. Ex. gr. To find the year
B. C. answering to Ol. 72, 3, the year of the battle of Marathon : 72
1 and 3 1=71, 2; and 71 X 4 + 2 = 286; and 776 286 =
490. The reason of the rule is this : the year is the 3d of the 72d
Olympiad ; consequently, seventy-one Olympiads and two years are
past ; the years which they make are therefore to be subtracted
from 776.
Grecian Measures of Length.
The Grecian foot was somewhat longer than the English, being to it
as 1.007 to 1. The Stadium was equal to 600 Greek feet, that is, to
604^ feet English, and was therefore less than the furlong (which
contains 660 feet) by 55-f feet. In a loose approximative way, how-
ever, we may reckon the stadia as furlongs, eight to the English
mile.
Grecian Money.
The Attic Drachma, or lowest silver coin, has been found, from a
comparison of several pieces, to weigh sixty-five grains Troy j hence
the following values result. r. ,
Obolus, or Obole l{i
Drachma = 6 Oboles 9|
Mna, or Mina = 100 Drachmas 4 6|
Talent = 60 Mnas 241 13 4
The Medimnus (somewhat more than a bushel) of wheat cost in
Solon's time one drachma ; in the time of the Corinthian War, three
drachmas ; and in the time of Demosthenes it was cheap at five
drachmas. Taking the medium price, three drachmas, (2s. 5d.,) we
may say, in a loose way, that money was of twice or three times the
value in those times that it is now, and compute the sums we shall
meet in the following pages accordingly.
THE
HISTORY OF GREECE
PART I.
ARISTOCRATIC PERIOD
CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTION OF GREECE.
The great mountain range which commences with the
Pyrenees at the Atlantic Ocean, and terminates with Mount
Hsemus, or the Balkan, at the Euxine Sea, divides the three
peninsulas which form the south of Europe from the con-
tinent which extends to the north. In its course, it sends
out branches on either side, one of which runs down Hel-
las, or Greece, the most eastward of the peninsulas. This
branch, in its progress southwards, first formed the limit be-
tween the Ulyrians on the west, and the Paeonians and Ma-
cedonians on the east. It then, under the name of Pindus,
divided the Hellenes* of Thessaly from their semi-barba-
rous kindred, the Epirotes, who dwelt to the west. This
range also has its branches, and it continues its course,
under various names, till it ends at the sea.
A branch, running eastwards from the commencement
of Pindus, separates Macedonia from Greece, forming the
* By the inhabitants, the country was named Hellas, ( r 'EUag,) the
people, Hellenes, ( r> EXhjveg ;) the Romans called the former Gratia,
the latter, Greed.
1 A
HISTORY OF GREECE.
northern limit of this last-named country. This branch is
called the Cambunian Mountains ; it was also named Olym-
pus, from the lofty snow-crowned mountain of that name,
once held to be the seat of the Grecian gods, which forms
its eastern extremity. A narrow valley separates Olympus
from Ossa, which rises, in form like a dome, on the south ;
and Ossa is joined on the south by Pelion, which is met
by a ridge, named Othrys, running eastwards from Pindus.
Parallel to Olympus and Othrys on the south, another branch,
named CEta, runs from the chain of Pindus to the sea.
The country lying between Olympus and CEta is named
Thessaly. It is divided into two portions by Mount Othrys.
The northern, which may be called the Vale of the Peneius,
(Peneus,) from its principal river, is a rich, fertile plain, shut
in on all sides by mountains. One narrow opening between
Olympus and Ossa, the romantic glen of Tempe, affords an
outlet to the waters of the limpid Titaresius, and the other
streams which irrigate the valley. The Peneius receives
them all, and pours them through Tempe into the sea.
The towns of the Vale of the Peneius are Tricca, Larissa,
Scotussa, Crannon, Pheree, on the Lake Bcebei's, Pharsa-
lus, etc.
A road over Othrys, by the castle of Thaumakia, led from
the Vale of the Peneius into that of the Spercheius. This
last is watered by the Spercheius and its tributary streams,
and is open on the east to the sea ; by two bays of which,
the Pagasai'c and Maliac, it is penetrated. Its towns were
Lamia, Hypata, Alus, Larissa Cremaste, Iolcos, Pagasoo, etc.
A narrow strip of land, between Ossa and Pelion and the
sea, extends from the mouth of the Peneius to that of the
Bay of Pagasae : this was named Magnesia, and was con-
sidered a part of Thessaly.
As Tempe is the only entrance into Thessaly on the north,
so the only passage out of it on the south is the narrow pass
named Pylre, (Gates,) or Thermopylae, (Hot-gates,) from its
warm springs, which runs between the eastern termination
of CEta and the sea. South-eastwards from CEta rise in
DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. 3
succession the hills named Cnemis, Acontion, and Ptoon ;
which, with the land between them and the sea, form the
Epicnemidian and Opuntian Locris, whose only towns of
note were Opus, Scarpheia, Nicaea, and Thronion.
Messapion, Mycalessos, and other hills, run along the
coast, from Ptoon, and join Mount Parnes, which, running
westwards, meets the rugged Cithaeron. The verdant Heli-
con, the seat of the Muses, turns northwards from Cithaeron,
and is succeeded by Mount Hadyleion, which joins that of
Acontion. The region thus enclosed, and named Boeotia,
is not a plain, like those of Thessaly, but rather a succession
of hill and dale, and plains of small extent and great fertility.
It is divided by a range of rocky hills, running from Heli-
con to Ptoon. The northern part contained the towns of
Orchomenus, Chaeroneia, Lebadeia, Coroneia, Aspledon,
Haliartus, Onchestus, etc. Its principal river is the Cephis-
sus, which, having collected the waters of the Valley of
Phocis on the west, enters Bceotia, at the pass of Elateia, on
the north, the only entrance into Bceotia,* and empties
itself into Lake Copais, famous for its delicious eels. Sub-
terraneous passages, thirty stadia in length, convey the
superfluous waters of this lake to the sea on the east. The
southern portion of Bceotia contained the towns of Thebes,
Thespise, and Plataea. Its chief stream is the Asopus,
which, rising in Cithaeron, enters the sea near Tanagra.
The coast from Locris to Attica, containing the towns of
Anthedon, Tanagra, and Oropus, was part of Bceotia, as
also a strip of coast along the Corinthian Gulf. Bceotia,
being the central part of Greece, and affording plains of some
extent, was the scene of most of the great land battles which
occur in Grecian history.
South-east of Bceotia, and separated from it by the range
of Parnes and Cithaeron, runs into the sea the peninsula of
Attica. Hills, some rugged, some fruitful, enclosing valleys
and small, fertile plains, occupy the greater part of its
* When we call Tempe, Thermopylae, and the present one, the only
entrances, we mean exclusive of ways over the mountains.
4 HISTORY OF GREECE.
surface. The chief hills are Hymettus, Pentelicus, and the
promontory of Sunion; the most extensive plains are those
of Eleusis, Athens, Brauron, and Marathon. Athens and
Eleusis were the only towns of note : the brooks of the
Ilissus and Cephissus, at Athens, have obtained a celebrity
not proportioned to their magnitude.
Opposite the coast of Locris, Bceotia, and Attica, and
separated from it by a narrow channel, lies the island of
Eubcea, extending, in a length of twelve hundred stadia, from
the Maliac Bay to the parallel of Brauron in Attica. It
contained the towns of Oreos, Chalcis, Eretria, Carystus, etc.
West of Attica, and south of Cithaeron, to the Corinthian
Gulf, extends Megaris, consisting of barren hills and a single
plain, on which stood the town of Megara, with a port on
the Saronic Gulf.
Between Helicon and Parnassus, in a valley extending
from the Corinthian Gulf to the Epicnemidian Locris, lies
Phocis. Its towns were Delphi, renowned for its oracle,
Stiris, Panopeus, Hyampolis, Elateia, etc.
Parnassus, Pindus, and CEta, enclose Dryopis and Doris
to the north-west of Phocis ; and the Western, or Ozolian
Locris, with its towns of Amphissa and Naupactus, lies west
of Phocis, on the Corinthian Guif.
To the west of Locris and Parnassus, and extending
northwards to Pindus and the Bay of Ambracia, lies the
mountainous, but not unfertile, iEtolia. Its towns were
Thermon, Pleuron, Calydon, Chalcis, etc. The river Eve-
nus, rising in Mount QEta, runs through it from north to
south ; the Achelous, flowing from Pindus, forms its western
limit.
West of the Achelous, and bounded by it and the Ionian
Sea, lies Acarnania. Its towns were Stratos, Alyzia, etc.
The peninsula named Peloponnesus lies to the south of
Greece, to which it is united by a neck of land named the
Isthmus, only thirty-two stadia in its least width. The
Oneian Mountains, which run south from Cithaeron, termi-
nate and leave a plain at the Isthmus, which extends into
Peloponnesus.
DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. O
A mountainous quadrangle, enclosing a district divided
into separate portions by lower ranges, and sending out
arms on all sides, occupies the centre of Peloponnesus.
The mountains named Erymanthus, Lampe, Aroania, and
Cyllene, form the north side of the quadrangle ; its eastern
side is composed of Artemision, Parthenion, and Parnon.
Those of Boreion, Taygeton, and Lycaeon, form its south
side; and Pholoe, with the mountains which unite it to
Lycaeon, close it in on the west. The included region is
named Arcadia; it consists of mountain ranges, elevated
plains, deep valleys, ravines, torrents, lakes, and forests.
Its only opening is on the west, where the river Alpheius
issues, carrying with it the waters of the Ladon and other
streams. Some streams leave it on the east by subterrane-
ous passages. The towns of Arcadia were Tegea and
Mantineia, (both standing in a plain, the scene of many
a hard-fought battle,) Orchomenus, Cleitor, Stymphalus,
Megalopolis, etc.
North of Arcadia, the mountains gradually sink to the sea.
The narrow strip running along the coast opposite ^Etolia
and Locris was named Achaia. It contained twelve towns
Dyme, Patrae, iEgion, Pellene, etc.
To the east of Achaia, on the coast, was the small state
of Sicyon; and bounded by them, by Argolis, and Arcadia,
lay the equally small states of Phliiis and Cleonae.
East of Sicyon, in the plain extending through and from
the Isthmus, and along the Saronic Gulf, lies the district of
Corinth. The wealthy, luxurious city of that name was
built south of the Isthmus, at the foot of the lofty rock
named Aero-Corinth, which rises abruptly out of the plain
to a height of some hundred feet. The city had two ports,
Cenchreae on the Saronic, and Lechaeon on the Corinthian
Gulf.
A peninsula named Argolis, from its principal town, runs
hence in a south-east direction. Its northern side, named
the Acte, (Strand,) contained the towns of Epidaurus and
Trcezen ; its southern side, those of Argos, Mycenae, Her-
1*
6 HISTORY OF GREECE.
mione, etc. It is chiefly composed of ranges of hills and
plains along the coast, like the opposite Attica. The Ina-
chus and Erasinus, which rise in Arcadia, are its most
important streams.
South-east and south of Arcadia stretch two mountain
ridges, terminating in the promontories of Malea and
Tsenaron. They enclose a fertile valley, watered by the
pellucid Eurotas, and then receive between them the Laco-
nian Bay. This country was named Laconia; its towns
were Sparta or Lacedaemon, Amyclae, Gytheion, (Gythium,)