Identifier: storyofgreatestn02elli (find matches)
Title: The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century : a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and a pronouncing vocabulary of each nation
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : F.R. Niglutsch
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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ity to stir up the old enmity against Sparta. It wasdue to him that the Athenians engaged in the enterprise of conquering Syra-cuse, the most important city of Sicily. If this proved successful, Athenswould gain a vast preponderance over Sparta, and Alcibiades would be carriedto the topmost wave of prosperity and glory. In B.C. 415, the Atheniansdespatched a fleet and army against Syracuse, to which the Spartans sent rein-forcements, and thus the Peloponnesian war was renewed. The story of Alcibiades is deeply interesting. He was appointed to thecommand of the Sicilian expedition, together with Nicias and Lamachus; butwhile preparations were under way, it happened one night that all the statuesof Mercury in Athens were mutilated. The people were exasperated, and wel!knowing the roystering character of Alcibiades, they laid the blame upon himand his boon companions. His enemies waited, however, until he had sailedupon his expedition, when they kindled so strong a resentment against him
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DESTRUCTION OF THE ATHENIAN ARMY AT SYRACUSE Greece—Athenian Defeat at Syracuse 225 that he was recalled to stand trial. He was incensed, and on his way homelanded at Thurii, made his escape, and, fleeing to Sparta, speedily made himselfhighly popular with the people. It was he who persuaded the Lacedaemoniansto send assistance to the Syracusans, and to form an alliance with the king ofPersia. The Syarcusans needed help greatly, for they had been reduced almost todespair by the bold attacks and close siege of the Athenian general Nicias.However, Gylippus, the general sent against him by the Spartans, proved asable as his opponent, and with his troops soon restored the struggle to an equalfooting. Sicily now became the chief centre of the war. Both sides were heav-ily reinforced; the flower of the Athenian army and navy gathered at Syracuse. At last the Spartans and Syracusans combined managed to win a completevictory. The Athenian fleet was destroyed and the army, left unsupported a

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