Sicilian Expedition (Siege of Syracuse)
413 BCE · Syracuse (Sicily, modern Italy) · World · Ancient
After its siege stalled, Athens lost one naval battle after another, and its army was wiped out or captured while retreating overland.
Belligerents
Athens
- Commanders
- Nicias, Demosthenes
- Strength
- Athenian expeditionary army and fleet
Syracusan-Spartan coalition
- Commanders
- Gylippus
- Strength
- Syracusan army and Spartan reinforcements
Background
On the pretext of aiding its Sicilian allies, Athens sent an expedition against wealthy Syracuse, aiming to extend its influence in the western Mediterranean.
Course of the battle
- Siege stallsThe Athenian army besieged Syracuse for a long time without success, and supplies grew increasingly difficult
- Repeated defeats in the Great HarborThe Athenian fleet was defeated repeatedly in the Great Harbor of Syracuse
- Retreat by land ends in total annihilationThe Athenians abandoned their ships and retreated overland, and were cut down almost to a man along the way
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 413 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Syracuse (Sicily, modern Italy) |
| Result | After its siege stalled, Athens lost one naval battle after another, and its army was wiped out or captured while retreating overland. |
| Winner | Syracusan-Spartan coalition |
| Casualties | The Athenian expeditionary force was almost entirely destroyed; Nicias and Demosthenes were executed, and the survivors were sold into slavery. |
| Territorial change | Athenian power in Sicily came to a complete end, and the heavy blow hastened its defeat in the Peloponnesian War. |
Impact
In Thucydides' account, the turning point at which Athens passed from its height into decline, greatly weakening the foundations of its hegemony in the Aegean.
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