History of the Peloponnesian War

Such were the Hellenic peoples in Sicily, all Dorians and independent, that fought on their side; but of Barbarians, the Sicels alone—those, that is, that had not gone over to the side of the Athenians. Of the Hellenes outside of Sicily there were the Lacedaemonians, who furnished a Spartan as commander-in-chief, but no troops except Neodamodes[*](See on 7.19.3.) and Helots; the Corinthians, who alone were at hand with both a fleet and a land-force; the Leucadians and Ambraciots, both induced by the tie of kinship;[*](Syracuse (6.3.2), Leucas (1.30.2) and Ambracia (2.80.3) were sister states having Corinth as μητρόπολις.) from Arcadia[*](cf. 7.19.4.) mercenaries sent by the Corinthians; the Sicyonians, who served under compulsion;[*](Because since 418 B.C. an oligarchic constitution had been forced upon them (5.81.2).) and, from outside the Peloponnesus, the Boeotians.[*](cf. 7.19.3.)

As compared with all these, who came from abroad, the Siceliots themselves supplied a greater number of troops of every kind, inasmuch as the cities they inhabited were large; and in fact the forces they collected comprised hoplites in large numbers, as well as ships, horses, and a miscellaneous horde of vast numbers. And again, in comparison with all the rest, speaking roughly, the Syracusans themselves provided the larger number, both on account of the greatness of their city and because they were in the greatest danger.

Such were the forces that had been brought together for the assistance of either side, and at this time[*](The latter part of the summer of 413 B.C.) both had all their contingents at hand, and no further reinforcements came to either.

The Syracusans and their allies, then, naturally conceived the thought that it would be a glorious achievement for them to crown the victory which they had won in the sea-fight by taking the whole vast armament of the Athenians and preventing their escape in either way, either by sea or by land.

Accordingly, they began at once to close the entrance to the Great Harbour, which was about eight stadia wide, with triremes ranged broadside and with large and small boats, mooring them at anchor; and they made other preparations in case the Athenians should still venture to fight at sea, and there was nothing small about any of the designs they formed.