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ng the Greek cities in Sicily； and； having thus ascertained what assistance they could rely upon； to attack Syracuse and Selinus。
Naxos joined the Athenians； and shortly afterwards they obtained possession by surprise of the important city of Catana； which was now made the head…quarters of the armament。 Here an unwelcome message greeted Alcibiades。 after his departure from Athens； Thessalus； the son of Cimon； preferred an indictment against him in consequence of his profanation of the Eleusinian mysteries。 The Salaminian； or state； trireme was despatched to Sicily； carrying the decree of the assembly for Alcibiades to come home and take his trial。 The commander of the Salaminia was； however； instructed not to seize his person； but to allow him to sail in his own trireme。 Alcibiades availed himself of this privilege to effect his escape。 When the ships arrived at Thurii in Italy； he absconded； and contrived to elude the search that was made after him； Nevertheless； though absent； he was arraigned at Athens； and condemned to death； his property was confiscated； and the Eumolpidae； who presided ever the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries； pronounced upon him the curses of the gods。 On hearing of his sentence Alcibiades is said to have exclaimed； 〃I will show them that I am still alive。〃
Three months had now been frittered away in Sicily； during which the Athenians had done little or nothing； if we except the acquisition of Naxos and Catana。 Nicias now resolved to make an attempt upon Syracuse。 By a false message that the Catanaeans were ready to assist in expelling the Athenians； he induced the Syracusans to proceed thither in great force； and he availed himself of their absence to sail with his whole fleet into the Great Harbour of Syracuse； where he landed near the mouth of the Anapus。 The Syracusans； when they found that they had been deceived at Catana； marched back and offered Nicias battle in his new position。 The latter accepted it； and gained the victory； after which he retired to Catana； and subsequently to Naxos into winter quarters。
The Syracusans employed the winter in preparations for defence。 They also despatched envoys to Corinth and Sparta to solicit assistance； in the latter of which towns they found an unexpected advocate。 Alcibiades； having crossed from Thurii to Cyllene in Peloponnesus； received a special invitation to proceed to Sparta。 Here he revealed all the plans of Athens； and exhorted the Lacedaemonians to frustrate them。 For this purpose he advised them to send an army into Sicily； under the command of a Spartan general； and； by way of causing a diversion； to establish a fortified post at Decelea in the Attic territory。 The Spartans fell in with these views； and resolved to send a force to the assistance of Syracuse in the spring； under the command of Gylippus。
Nicias； having received reinforcements from Athens； recommenced hostilities as soon as the season allowed of it； and resolved on besieging Syracuse。 That town consisted of two partsthe inner and the outer city。 The former of thesethe original settlement was comprised in the island of Ortygia； the latter afterwards known by the name of Achradina； covered the high ground of the peninsula north of Ortygia； and was completely separate from the inner city。 The island of Ortygia； to which the modern city is now confined； is of an oblong shape； about two miles in circumference； lying between the Great Harbour on the west； and the Little Harbour on the east； and separated from the mainland by a narrow channel。 The Great Harbour is a splendid bay； about five miles in circumference； and the Little Harbour was spacious enough to receive a large fleet of ships of war。 The outer city was surrounded on the north and east by the sea and by sea…walls which rendered an assault on that side almost impracticable。 On the land side it was defended by a wall； and partly also by the nature of the ground； which in some part was very steep。 West and north…west of the wall of the outer city stood two unfortified suburbs； which were at a later time included within the walls of Syracuse under the names of Tyche and Neapolis。 Between these two suburbs the ground rose in a gentle acclivity to the summit of the ranges of hills called Epipolae。
It was from the high ground of Epipolae that Syracuse was most exposed to attack。 Nicias landed at Leon； a place upon the bay of Thapsus； at the distance of only six or seven stadia from Epipolae； took possession of Epipolae； and erected on the summit a fort called Labdalum。 Then coming farther down the hill towards Syracuse； he built another fort of a circular form and of considerable size at a place called Syke。 From the latter point he commenced his line of circumvallation； one wall extending southwards from Syke to the Great Harbour； and the other wall running northwards to the outer sea。 The Athenians succeeded in completing the circumvallation towards the south； but in one of their many engagements with the Syracusans they lost the gallant Lamachus。 At the same time； the Athenian fleet entered the Great Harbour； where it was henceforth permanently established。 The northern wall was never completed； and through the passage thus left open the besieged continued to obtain provisions。 Nicias； who； by the death of Lamachus； had become sole commander； seemed now on the point of succeeding。 The Syracusans were so sensible of their inferiority in the field that they no longer ventured to show themselves outside the walls。 They began to contemplate surrender； and even sent messages to Nicias to treat of the terms。 This caused the Athenian commander to indulge in a false confidence of success； and consequent apathy； and the army having lost the active and energetic Lamachus； operations were no longer carried on with the requisite activity。
It was in this state of affairs that the Spartan commander； Gylippus； passed over into Italy with a little squadron of four ships； with the view merely of preserving the Greek cities in that country； supposing that Syracuse； and； with her； the other Greek cities in Sicily； were irretrievably lost。 At Tarentum he learned to his great surprise and satisfaction that the Athenian wall of circumvallation at Syracuse had not yet been completed on the northern side。 He now sailed through the straits of Messana； which were left completely unguarded； and arrived safely at Himera on the north coast of Sicily。 Here he announced himself as the forerunner of larger succours； and began to levy an army which the magic of the Spartan name soon enabled him to effect； and in a few days he was in a condition to march towards Syracuse with about 3000 men。 The Syracusans now dismissed all thoughts of surrender； and went out boldly to meet Gylippus； who marched into Syracuse over the heights of Epipolae； which the supineness of Nicias had left unguarded。 Upon arriving in the city； Gylippus sent a message to the Athenians allowing them a five days' truce to collect their effects and evacuate the island。 Nicias returned no answer to this insulting proposal； but the operations of Gylippus soon showed that the tide of affairs was really turned。 His first exploit was to capture the Athenian fort at Labdalum； which made him master of Epipolae。 He next commenced constructing a counter…wall to intersect the Athenian lines on the northern side。 This turn of affairs induced those Sicilian cities which had hitherto hesitated to embrace the side of Syracuse。 Gylippus was also reinforced by the arrival of thirty triremes from Corinth； Leucas； and Ambracia。 Nicias now felt that the attempt to blockade Syracuse with his present force was hopeless。 He therefore resolved to occupy the headland of Plemmyrium； the southernmost point of the entrance to the Great Harbour； which would be a convenient station for watching the enemy； as well as for facilitating the introduction of supplies。 Here he accordingly erected three forts and formed a naval station。 Some slight affairs occurred in which the balance of advantage was in favour of the Syracusans。 By their change of station the Athenians were now a besieged rather than a besieging force。 Their triremes were becoming leaky； and their soldi