Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.9.11

← 10.9.10 10.9.12 →

Passage 10.9.11: Athenian generals' bribery blamed for the Aegospotami defeat

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

τὴν δὲ πληγὴν Ἀθηναῖοι τὴν ἐν Αἰγὸς ποταμοῖς οὐ μετὰ τοῦ δικαίου συμβῆναί σφισιν ὁμολογοῦσι· προδοθῆναι γὰρ ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ὑπὸ τῶν στρατηγησάντων, Τυδέα δὲ εἶναι καὶ Ἀδείμαντον οἳ τὰ δῶρα ἐδέξαντο παρὰ Λυσάνδρου. καὶ ἐς ἀπόδειξιν τοῦ λόγου Σιβύλλης παρέχονται τὸν χρησμόν· καὶ τότʼ Ἀθηναίοισι βαρύστονα κήδεα θήσει Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗπερ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον, νηυσὶ φερεπτολέμοισι μάχην καὶ δηιοτῆτα ὀλλυμέναις δολεροῖσι τρόποις, κακότητι νομήων. τὰ δὲ ἕτερα ἐκ Μουσαίου χρησμῶν μνημονεύουσι· καὶ γὰρ Ἀθηναίοισιν ἐπέρχεται ἄγριος ὄμβρος ἡγεμόνων κακότητι, παραιφασίη δέ τις ἔσται ἥττης· οὐ λήσουσι πόλιν, τίσουσι δὲ ποινήν.

English Translation

The Athenians admit that the disaster at Aegospotami did not befall them justly; rather, it was brought about through bribery by their generals, and they say that Tydeus and Adeimantus were the ones who accepted gifts from Lysander. As proof of this account, they cite an oracle of the Sibyl: "And then shall loud-thundering Zeus, whose power is supreme, lay grievous sorrows upon the Athenians, bringing battle and devastation against their warships doomed to destruction, through treacherous schemes and the wickedness of their leaders." They also recall another oracle from Musaeus: "For upon the Athenians will fall a fierce storm through the wickedness of their commanders, and their defeat will seem inexplicable. Yet they shall not escape the city's notice, and shall pay a penalty."

Proper Nouns

Zeus Hypsibremetes (Ζεύς Ὑψιβρεμέτης) deity
Lysander (Λύσανδρος) person
Musaeus (Μουσαῖος) person
Sibyl (Σίβυλλα) person
Tydeas (Τυδέας) person
Adeimantus (Ἀδείμαντος) person
Also in: 4.17.3
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Aegospotami (Αἶγος Ποταμοί) place Q404513
← 10.9.10 10.9.12 →