History of the Peloponnesian War

For the following nations on either side had entered the war at Syracuse, coming against Sicily or in behalf of Sicily, to aid the Athenians to win the country or the Syracusans to save it; and they chose sides, not so much on the ground of right or even of kinship, but either out of regard for their own advantage or from necessity, according to the circumstances in which they each happened to be placed.[*](Or, by adopting Heilmann's and Boehme's conjecture ὡς ἕκαστοι τῆς ξυντυχίας. . . εἶχον, “severally choosing their side, not so much from a sense of right or from obligations of kinship, as from the accident of compulsion or their own interest.”)

The Athenians themselves, as Ionians, went of their own free will against the Syracusans, who were Dorians, and with them went as members of the expedition the Lemnians, the Imbrians,[*](cf. 4.28.4. The occupation of Lemnos was effected by Miltiades a few years after the battle of Marathon (Herod. VI. 137-140), that of Imbros probably about the same time; of Aegina in 431 B.C. (2.27.1); of Hestiaea in 446 B.C. (1.114.5).) and the Aeginetans, who at this time held Aegina, as also the Hestiaeans who inhabit Hestiaea in Euboea, all these being colonists of the Athenians and having the same language and institutions as they had.

Of the rest, some took part in the expedition as subjects, others in consequence of an alliance, although independent, and some were mercenaries.

The peoples that were subjects and tributaries were the Eretrians, Chalcidians, Styreans and Carystians from Euboea; from the islands the Ceans, Andrians and Tenians; and from Ionia the Milesians, Samians and Chians. Of these last, however, the Chians followed as independent allies, not subject to the payment of tribute but furnishing ships instead.[*](cf. 6.85.2) Of the above-mentioned almost all were Ionians and colonists of Athens—except the Carystians, who are Dryopians[*](An aboriginal people, dwelling near Mount Oeta; cf. Herod. VIII. 43.)—and although they followed as subjects and under compulsion, nevertheless they were Ionians going against Dorians. Besides these there were Aeolians: the Methymnaeans,[*](cf. III, 1. 2; 6.85.2.) who paid service with ships and not with tribute, and as tributaries the Tenedians and Aenians. These, though Aeolians, were constrained to fight against Aeolians, that is, the Boeotians, their founders, who were on the side of the Syracusans;