History of the Peloponnesian War

Phormio commands a fleet that raids the Peloponnese. Sparta invades Attica. Athens’ cavalry keeps the Peloponnesian army at bay. Mytilene, a city on the Aegean island of Lesbos, revolts from Athens, which sends a fleet to subdue the revolt. After two battles and a stalled peace process, Athens blockades the city’s harbors. Thucydides believes Mytilene had the upper hand but lacked confidence. Mytilenians retreat to their city, allowing Athens to fortify its camps. Mytilene appeals for support to the Spartans, who accept them into their alliance. Athens blockades Mytilene by land and sea, and after running out of supplies, its population is forced to surrender.

Elsewhere, half of the besieged Plataeans plan to escape the city by breaking past the enemy’s siege walls. They wait for a stormy night, in order to mask any noise they make. Thucydides describes how they slip unnoticed past the guards until one accidentally knocks a tile over, raising an alarm. The Plataeans left behind create a distraction to confuse the guards. Aided by the “violent” storm, they escape to Athens (206).