Spartan and Argive Motivation in Thucydides 5.22.2

.

(ed.2 Jones)

1 CG (suprascr. G¹) secl. Praechter 2 . post add. Madvig et Hude 2–3 post transp. Göller post add. Alberti add. de Romilly 3 post νομισαντες add. Praechter νομισαντες del. de Romilly, secl. Alberti νομισαντες . . . secl. Heilmann, Poppo et Stahl, Classen et Steup νομισαντες et secl. Herwerden et secl. Arnold 4 secl. Böhme 4–5 post transp. Poppo et Stahl, Badham, Herwerden; secl. Classen et Steup

The apparatus criticus that I have put together shows the difficulties this passage has presented to scholars. The reason for so many suggested emendations is that if the Spartans are the subject of both participles, the repetition νομιζοντες . . . νομίσαντες is untenable and emendation is necessary. If, however, not they but the Argives are the subject of the second participle,1 then no emendation is necessary, and the text reads:

[The Spartans] themselves made an alliance with the Athenians, thinking that the Argives—since they had refused to renew the treaty when Ampelidas and Lichas arrived, because they did not think them [the Spartans] formidable without the Athenians—and the rest of the Peloponnesians especially would not at all remain on peaceful terms with them; for [the Spartans thought] that they [the Argives and the Peloponnesians], if it were possible, would go over to the Athenians.²

Though it is grammatical, for reasons I give below, commentators reject this understanding of the passage as illogical. Yet I argue that this understanding is to be preferred because it obviates the need for emendation and because far from being illogical, it is the key to the subtle reasoning behind Sparta's desire to make an alliance with Athens. Finally, since subsequent events prove Sparta's reasoning (as given here) correct, it is to be preferred because it improves our understanding of Argive motivation.

Crawley's translation³ is an example of the common understanding of these lines:

[The Lacedaemonians] now decided on forming an alliance with the Athenians, thinking that Argos, who had refused the application of Ampelidas and Lichas for a renewal of the treaty, would without Athens be no longer formidable, and that the rest of the Peloponnese would be most likely to keep quiet, if the coveted alliance of Athens were shut against them.

It seems that Crawley has adopted Herwerden's bracketing of the anaphoric νομισαντες and ,⁴ which, if one is to emend, is perhaps the most economical.⁵ To this day this understanding of the passage has informed scholars' interpretation of it and of its relation to this chaotic period of history.⁶

Although in both translations the point of the passage remains the same—an explanation of the reasoning behind Sparta's making an alliance with Athens—the meanings are quite different. In the former translation Sparta's reasoning is more complicated and subtle. It is not, as in the latter, that Sparta thinks that Argos would no longer be formidable without Athens, but that Sparta thinks that Argos thinks that she, Sparta, is not formidable without the Athenians, and for this reason Sparta fears trouble from Argos—and from the rest of the Peloponnese. It is this fear, as well as her fear of others combining with Athens, that drives her to make the alliance.⁷

Understanding the mindset of city–states and of individuals is, for Thucydides, crucial to understanding the war. In this brief account of motivation we learn that Sparta realizes that her reputation for invincibility no longer exists—not to be restored until her victory in the Battle of Mantinea—and that Argos scorns her.⁸ Whether Sparta is correct in her realization does not really signify, but as subsequent events make clear, she is.

The objections to the above understanding of the passage are, in essence, three:

1. 1. In the past, Sparta and Athens have been at odds, not allied; , therefore, is senseless (Arnold, Classen and Steup, and Gomme).⁹

2. 2. The Spartans do not require Athenian assistance to be formidable to the Argives (Arnold).

3. 3. The failure of Sparta to restore Cynuria is the Argive reason for not renewing the treaty (Arnold).

If...