s that had yet been fought in the Peloponnesian war。 Although the Athenians had fought on the side of the Argives at Mantinea； the peace between Sparta and Athens continued to be nominally observed。
In B。C。 416 the Athenians attacked and conquered Melos； which island and Thera were the only islands in the AEgean not subject to the Athenian supremacy。 The Melians having rejected all the Athenian overtures for a voluntary submission； their capital was blockaded by sea and land； and after a siege of some months surrendered。 On the proposal； as it appears； of Alcibiades； all the adult males were put to death； the women and children sold into slavery； and the island colonized afresh by 500 Athenians。 This horrible proceeding was the more indefensible； as the Athenians； having attacked the Melians in full peace； could not pretend that they were justified by the custom of war in slaying the prisoners。 It was the crowning act of insolence and cruelty displayed during their empire； which from this period began rapidly to decline。
The event destined to produce that catastrophethe intervention of the Athenians in the affairs of Sicilywas already in progress。 A quarrel had broken out between Egesta and Selinus； both which cities were seated near the western extremity of Sicily； and Selinus； having obtained the aid of Syracuse； was pressing very hard upon the Egestaeans。 The latter appealed to the interests of the Athenians rather than to their sympathies。 They represented how great a blow it would be to Athens if the Dorians became predominant in Sicily； and joined the Peloponnesian confederacy； and they undertook； if the Athenians would send an armament to their assistance； to provide the necessary funds for the prosecution of the war。 Their most powerful advocate was Alcibiades； whose ambitious views are said to have extended even to the conquest of Carthage。 The quieter and more prudent Nicias and his party threw their weight into the opposite scale。 But the Athenian assembly； dazzled by the idea of so splendid an enterprise； decided on despatching a large fleet under Nicias； Alcibiades； and Lamachus； with the design of assisting Egesta； and of establishing the influence of Athens throughout Sicily； by whatever means might be found practicable。
For the next three months the preparations for the undertaking were pressed on with the greatest ardour。 Young and old； rich and poor； all vied with one another to obtain a share in the expedition。 Five years of comparative peace had accumulated a fresh supply both of men and money； and the merchants of Athens embarked in the enterprise as in a trading expedition。 It was only a few of the wisest heads that escaped the general fever of excitement； The expedition was on the point of sailing； when a sudden and mysterious event converted all these exulting feelings into gloomy foreboding。
At every door in Athens； at the corners of streets； in the market place； before temples； gymnasia； and other public places； stood Hermae； or statues of the god Hermes； consisting of a bust of that deity surmounting a quadrangular pillar of marble about the height of the human figure。 When the Athenians rose one morning towards the end of May； 415 B。C。； it was found that all these figures had been mutilated during the night； and reduced by unknown hands to a shapeless mass。 The act inspired political； as well as religious； alarm。 It seemed to indicate a widespread conspiracy； for so sudden and general a mutilation must have been the work of many hands。 The sacrilege might only be a preliminary attempt of some powerful citizen to seize the despotisn； and suspicion pointed its finger at Alcibiades。 Active measures were taken and large rewards offered for the discovery of the perpetrators。 A public board was appointed to examine witnesses； which did not； indeed； succeed in eliciting any facts bearing on the actual subject of inquiry； but which obtained evidence respecting similar acts of impiety committed at previous times in drunken frolics。 In these Alcibiades himself was implicated； and though the fleet was on the very eve of departure； a citizen rose in the assembly and accused Alcibiades of having profaned the Eleusinian mysteries by giving a representation of them in a private house； producing in evidence the testimony of a slave。 Alcibiades denied the accusation； and implored the people to have it investigated at once。 His enemies； however； had sufficient influence to get the inquiry postponed till his return； thus keeping the charge hanging over his head； and gaining time to poison the public mind against him。
The Athenian fleet； consisting of 100 triremes； and having on board 1500 chosen Athenian hoplites； as well as auxiliaries； at length set sail； and proceeded to Corcyra； where it was joined by the other allies in the month of July； 415 B。C。 Upon arriving at Rhegium the generals received the discouraging news that Egesta was unable to contribute more than thirty talents。 A council of war was now held； and it was finally resolved to gain as many allies as they could among the Greek cities in Sicily； and； having thus ascertained what assistance they could rely upon； to attack Syracuse and Selinus。
Naxos joined the Athenians； and shortly afterwards they obtained possession by surprise of the important city of Catana； which was now made the head…quarters of the armament。 Here an unwelcome message greeted Alcibiades。 after his departure from Athens； Thessalus； the son of Cimon； preferred an indictment against him in consequence of his profanation of the Eleusinian mysteries。 The Salaminian； or state； trireme was despatched to Sicily； carrying the decree of the assembly for Alcibiades to come home and take his trial。 The commander of the Salaminia was； however； instructed not to seize his person； but to allow him to sail in his own trireme。 Alcibiades availed himself of this privilege to effect his escape。 When the ships arrived at Thurii in Italy； he absconded； and contrived to elude the search that was made after him； Nevertheless； though absent； he was arraigned at Athens； and condemned to death； his property was confiscated； and the Eumolpidae； who presided ever the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries； pronounced upon him the curses of the gods。 On hearing of his sentence Alcibiades is said to have exclaimed； 〃I will show them that I am still alive。〃
Three months had now been frittered away in Sicily； during which the Athenians had done little or nothing； if we except the acquisition of Naxos and Catana。 Nicias now resolved to make an attempt upon Syracuse。 By a false message that the Catanaeans were ready to assist in expelling the Athenians； he induced the Syracusans to proceed thither in great force； and he availed himself of their absence to sail with his whole fleet into the Great Harbour of Syracuse； where he landed near the mouth of the Anapus。 The Syracusans； when they found that they had been deceived at Catana； marched back and offered Nicias battle in his new position。 The latter accepted it； and gained the victory； after which he retired to Catana； and subsequently to Naxos into winter quarters。
The Syracusans employed the winter in preparations for defence。 They also despatched envoys to Corinth and Sparta to solicit assistance； in the latter of which towns they found an unexpected advocate。 Alcibiades； having crossed from Thurii to Cyllene in Peloponnesus； received a special invitation to proceed to Sparta。 Here he revealed all the plans of Athens； and exhorted the Lacedaemonians to frustrate them。 For this purpose he advised them to send an army into Sicily； under the command of a Spartan general； and； by way of causing a diversion； to establish a fortified post at Decelea in the Attic territory。 The Spartans fell in with these views； and resolved to send a force to the assistance of Syracuse in the spring； under the command of Gylippus。
Nicias； having received reinforcements from Athens； recommenced hostilities as soon as the season allowed of it； and resolved on besieging Syracuse。 That town consisted of two partsthe inner and the outer city。 The former of thesethe original settlement was comprised in the island of Ortygia； the latter afterwards known by the name of Achradina； covered the high ground of the peninsula north of Ortygia； and was completely separate from the inner city。 The island of Ortygia； to which the modern city is now confined； is of an oblong shape； about two miles in circumference； lying between the Great Harbour on the west； and the Little Harbour on the east； and separated from the mainland by a narrow channel。 The Great Harbour is a splendid bay； about five miles in circumference； and the Little Harbour was spacious enough to receive a large fleet of ships of war。 The outer city was surrounded on the north and east by the sea and by sea…walls which rendered an assault on that side almost impracticable。 On the land side it was defended by a wall； and partly also by the nature of the ground； which in some part was very steep。 West and north…west of the wall of the outer city stood two unfortified suburbs； which were at a later time included within the walls of Syracuse under the names of Tyche and Neapolis。 Bet