Ep. 0290: ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ Pt. III

Here it is, FINALLY — the third installment of ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest’ series, about the Athenian expedition to Sicily during the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC. Enjoy!

Join CJ as he discusses:

The Syracusan reaction to news of a huge, inbound Athenian expeditionary force, including the wise advice of Hermocrates (that wasn’t sufficiently heeded at first)

The arrival of the Athenians in the area, & initial difficulties & disappointments they began to encounter

The debate among the 3 Athenian strategoi (Nicias, Lamachus & Alcibiades) over how to proceed, the strategy adopted, & the lack of significant progress

The recall of Alcibiades to Athens for trial, & his subsequent escape

Athenian successes in Sicily that they failed to capitalize upon sufficiently to defeat Syracuse prior to the onset of the winter of 414/415

Athenian & Syracusan diplomatic efforts during that first winter

The success of Syracusan diplomacy (with the help of Alcibiades) in securing aid from Corinth & Sparta

Gylippus, the Spartan strategos sent to take command of the Syracusan war effort against Athens

Initial Athenian successes during the campaign season of 414 that (despite the death of Lamachus) drove the Syracusans to the brink of surrender

The arrival of Gylippus in the nick of time, & his stunning successes in turning the tide of the war against Athens & nullifying their efforts to circumvallate & besiege Syracuse