History of the Peloponnesian War

While the Lacedaemonians were at the Isthmus, the Mytilenaeans and their auxiliaries[*](Foreign mercenaries; cf. 3.2.2.) marched with their army against Methymna, which they supposed was being betrayed into their hands; and they assaulted the city, but when their attempt did not succeed as they had expected, they went off to Antissa, Pyrrha and Eresus, and after establishing their interests in these cities on a firmer basis and strengthening the walls, went home in haste.

As soon, however, as they had withdrawn, the Methymnaeans in their turn made an expedition against Antissa; but a sortie was made by the inhabitants of Antissa and the auxiliary troops in which the Methymnaeans were defeated and many of them slain, whereupon the rest withdrew in haste.

Now when the Athenians learned that the Mytilenaeans were masters of the country and that their own soldiers were not numerous enough to keep them within their walls, about the beginning of autumn they sent Paches son of Epicurus in command of a thousand Athenian hoplites, who also served as rowers.[*](The fact of hoplites serving at the oars-evidently for economical reasons (cf. 3.19.1)—is especially emphasised. cf. 1.10.4; 6.91.4.)

When they arrived at Mytilene, they encircled it with a single wall, in which forts were built at a number of strong positions.

Mytilene was thus at last completely cut off both by sea and land just as the winter set in.