Phase II: Sicilian Expedition

Sicilian Expedition

       The Treaty of Nicia saw a short-lived peace. In a bid to expand Athenian power, Athens set its eyes past Greece to the Greek colonies in Italy and Sicily. On the island of Sicily stood a wealthy city-state known as Syracuse. Athens saw it as an opportunity to secure more wealth alongside control in the region it so desperately sought. In 415 BC, Athens invaded Sicily.

       The First Siege of Syracuse in 414 BC saw little resistance by the people of Syracuse. With a small army behind its walls, Hermocrates would dispatch a call to Sparta. With a hasty response, Spartan General Gylippus' and the might of the Spartan forces would ravage the unprepared Athenians. Having sent a bulk of the Athenian Army and its Fleet to Syracuse, Athenian forces were quickly surrounded and slaughtered by a combined Syracusan and Spartan force.

(Second Battle of Syracuse)

       The Second Battle of Syracuse saw the decimation of the Athenian force who saw two-third of their 5,000 hoplite infantry perish as the rest would be sold to slavery. As for the Navy, Athens lost all 130 triremes; a devastating loss.