(a trireme from a panel of the Temple of Isis, Pompeii; Naples Archaeological Museum, Italy, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)
In 415 BCE, a fleet of over 130
Athenian and allied trireme ships, accompanied by more than a hundred
supply boats, reached the eastern shores of Sicily on the pretext of
combating the potential threat posed by Syracuse. While most Sicilian
communities on that stretch of coastline wanted nothing to do with the
Athenian expedition, the cities of Naxos and Catana allowed the
foreigners into their walls, albeit the latter city took some coercion.
After expelling the minority pro-Syracusan party in Catana, the
Athenians built their camp there, reportedly housing more than 7,000
hoplites, skirmishers and some cavalry in or around the premises.
At least one prominent member of the
pro-Syracusan party managed to stay behind in Catana. The unnamed man
began taking notes about the Athenian forces, such as repetitious
schedules, the locations of armories and even the positioning of their
sleeping quarters. After memorizing such details, the man departed from
Catana and rushed to Syracuse. As the refugee was a well-known member of
the downfallen pro-Syracusan party in Catana, the contacts that he had
in Syracuse vouched for his loyalty, and the military leaders of the
city took his words with all seriousness. Once allowed to speak, he
vividly described to the Syracusans the layout of the Athenian camp, as
well as their daily routine. He claimed that the camp became especially
lazy at night and that the Athenian warriors would leave their weapons
outside the city walls while they slept without their armor in makeshift
barracks within Catana. In addition to this, the informant also swore
that there was still a spirited pro-Syracuse core of the population in
Catana that would betray the Athenians if given a chance.
Read about the intriguing plot twists that occurred in this confrontation between Athens and Syracuse, HERE.
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