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The True Cause of the Peloponnesian War

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

G. Dickins
Affiliation:
Oxford

Extract

It might reasonably be argued that this question is one of those historical problems which form excellent subjects for the writing of essays, but which are far too complex to admit of a decisive answer, and consequently are much better left alone. No one man is responsible for a war between great powers, and the motives which influence the vast number of people, whose consent is necessary, can rarely, if ever, be identical. It is therefore comparatively easy to argue against any given motive which is asserted to be the one and only reason. Certainly the writer would make no effort to rake up the ashes of this controversy, were it not that in Dr. Grundy's recent work on Thucydides a new and ingenious theory is put forward concerning the vera causa of the Peloponnesian War.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1911

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References

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page 241 note 3 Herodotus does not mention the part played by the ephors either at Eleusis or Aegina, but it is usually concluded from the well-known hatred of the ephors both for Cleomenes and Leotychidas, that they acted in concert with Demara tus, also the bitter foe of the other kings. It has been held that the held by Demaratus after his deposition (Herod, vi. 67) was the ephorate.Google Scholar

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page 242 note 3 The expedition to Tanagra was led by Nicomedes in place of Pleistoanax; the expedition to Eleusis by Pleistoanax himself. The absence of Archidamus in both cases can only have been due to his own refusal, especially in 457, when it was clearly his duty during the minority of his colleague (Thuc. I. 107).Google Scholar

page 243 note 1 Not only was the Lesbian proposal of revolt rejected, but Sparta intervened or tried to intervene with Sicyon between Corinth and Corcyra.This must have been due to fear of war and desire to prevent it.Google Scholar

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