8. Spartan Peace Offers

  • Spartans sue for peace and the Athenians, under influence of Cleon son of Cleanetus (4.21), refuse.
  • Note the terms of this offer for peace, which are relevant later to the treatment of the captured Athenians in the Syracusan stone quarries; they include an allottment of:

    du/o xoi/nikaj e(ka/stw| )Attika\j a)lfi/twn
    kai\ du/o kotu/laj oi)/nou
    kai\ kre/aj,
    qera/ponti de\ tou/twn h(mi/sea

    two Attic choenikes of grain (= 8 kotylai, about 4 quarts),
    two kotylai of wine (= about 1 quart),
    and a piece of meat for each man;
    half as much for slaves
    (4 kotylai of grain (= 2 quarts),
    one kotyle of wine (= 2 pints),
    and (?) half a piece of meat for each)
  • The Athenians blockade Sphacteria with 70 ships and cruise around the island with two ships.
  • The Spartans attack the fort at Pylos and await an opportunity to rescue their men on Sphacteria.
  • This is where the narrative begins in your text (Section 1; 4.26.1).